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'     G.    TW.ACY,     ^ 

UTIC  A. 

<f>*rfs*wtff""*"ffff'*'9 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL: 


A   LEGEND   OF    ST.   INIGOE'S 


BY   THE   AUTHOR  OF 


"  SWALLOW  BARN,"  "  HORSE-SHOE  ROBINSON,"  &.c. 


Daniel.     Quot  homines  tot  sententise. 

Martin.     And  what  is  that  ? 

Daniel.     'Tis  Greek,  and  argues  difference  of  opinion. 

John  Woodvil. 


IN   TWO  VOLUMES, 


VOL.  I. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

LEA  &  BLANCHARD. 

SUCCESSORS  TO  CAREY  f<  CO. 

1838. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1838,  by 

LEA    &    BLANCHARD, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States, 
in  and  for  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


I.  ASHMEAD  AND  CO..  PRINTERS. 


PS 


PREFACE 


THE  tale  related  in  the  following  pages  refers  to 
a  period  in  the  history  of  Maryland,  which  has  here 
tofore  been  involved  in  great  obscurity, — many  of 
the  most  important  records  connected  with  it  having 
been  lost  to  public  inspection  in  forgotten  reposito 
ries,  where  they  have  crumbled  away  under  the 
touch  of  time.  To  the  persevering  research  of  the 
accomplished  Librarian  of  the  State — a  gentleman 
whose  dauntless,  antiquarian  zeal  and  liberal  scholar 
ship  are  only  surpassed  by  the  enlightened  judgment 
with  which  he  discharges  the  functions  of  his  office- — 
we  are  indebted  for  the  rescue  of  the  remnant  of 
these  memorials  of  by-gone  days,  from  the  oblivion 
to  which  the  carelessness  of  former  generations  had 
consigned  them.  Many  were  irrecoverable  ;  and  it 
was  the  fate  of  the  gentleman  referred  to,  to  see 
them  fall  into  dust  at  the  moment  that  the  long 
estranged  light  first  glanced  upon  them. 

To  some  of  those  which  have  been  saved  from 
this  wreck,  the  author  is  indebted  for  no  small  por 
tion  of  the  materials  of  his  story.  In  his  endeavour 
to  illustrate  these  passages  in  the  annals  of  the  stale, 


560606 

ENGLISH 


PREFACE. 

it  is  proper  for  him  to  say  that  he  has  aimed  to  per 
form  his  task  with  historical  fidelity.  If  he  has  set 
in  harsher  lights  than  may  be  deemed  charitable 
some  of  the  actors  in  these  scenes,  or  portrayed  in 
lineaments  of  disparagement  or  extenuation,  beyond 
their  deserts,  the  partisans  on  either  side  in  that  war 
of  intolerance  which  disfigured  the  epoch  of  this  tale, 
it  was  apart  from  his  purpose.  As  a  native  of  the 
state  he  feels  a  prompt  sensibility  to  the  fame  of  her 
Catholic  founders,  and,  though  differing  from  them  in 
his  faith,  cherishes  the  remembrance  of  their  noble 
endeavours  to  establish  religious  freedom,  with  the 
affection  due  to  what  he  believes  the  most  wisely 
planned  and  honestly  executed  scheme  of  society 
which  at  that  era,  at  least,  was  to  be  found  in  the 
annals  of  mankind.  In  the  temper  inspired  by  this 
sentiment,  these  volumes  have  been  given  to  the 
public,  and  are  now  respectfully  inscribed  to  THE 
STATE  OF  MARYLAND,  by  one  who  takes  the  deepest 
interest  in  whatever  concerns  her  present  happiness 
or  ancient  renown. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
BALTIMORE,  DEC.  1,  1838. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


A   LEGEND   OF   ST.   INIGOES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


No  more  thy  glassy  brook  reflects  the  day, 
But  choked  with  sedges,  works  its  weedy  way; 
Along  thy  glades  a  solitary  guest, 
The  hollow-sounding  bittern  guards  its  nest; 
Amidst  thy  desert  walks  the  lapwing  flies, 
And  tires  their  echoes  with  unvaried  cries. 
Sunk  are  thy  bowers  in  shapeless  ruin  all, 
And  the  long  grass  o'ertops  the  mould'ring  wall. 

THE  DESERTED  VILLAGE. 


IT  is  now  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty-four 
years  since  the  ancient  capital  of  Maryland  was 
shorn  of  its  honours,  by  the  removal  of  the  public 
offices,  and,  along  with  them,  the  public  functionaries, 
to  Annapolis.  The  date  of  this  removal,  I  think,  is 
recorded  as  of  the  year  of  grace  sixteen  hundred 

VOL.  I.— 2 


14  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

and  ninety-four.  The  port  of  St.  Mary's,  up  to  that 
epoch,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the  province,  com 
prehending  rather  more  than  three  score  years,  had 
been  the  seat  of  the  Lord  Proprietary's  government. 
This  little  city  had  grown  up  in  hard-favoured  times, 
which  had  their  due  effect  in  leaving  upon  it  the  visi 
ble  tokens  of  a  stunted  vegetation:  it  waxed  gnarled 
and  crooked,  as  it  perked  itself  upward  through  the 
thorny  troubles  of  its  existence,  and  might  be  likened 
to  the  black  jack,  which  yet  retains  a  foothold  in  this 
region, — a  scrubby,  tough  and  hardy  mignon  of  the 
forest,  whose  elder  day  of  crabbed  luxuriance  affords 
a  sour  comment  upon  the  nurture  of  its  youth. 

Geographers  are  aware  that  the  city  of  St.  Mary's 
stood  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  which  now  bears 
the  same  name  (though  of  old  it  was  called  St. 
George's,)  and  which  flows  into  the  Potomac  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  state  of  Maryland,  on  the 
western  side  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  at  a  short  distance 
westward  from  Point  Lookout:  but  the  very  spot  wrhere 
the  old  city  stood  is  known  only  to  a  few, — for  the 
traces  of  the  early  residence  of  the  Proprietary  go 
vernment  have  nearly  faded  away  from  the  know 
ledge  of  this  generation.  An  astute  antiquarian  eye, 
however,  may  define  the  site  of  the  town  by  the  few 
scattered  bricks  which  the  ploughshare  has  mingled 
with  the  ordinary  tillage  of  the  fields.  It  may  be 
determined,  still  more  visibly,  by  the  mouldering  and 
shapeless  ruin  of  the  ancient  State  House,  whose 
venerable  remains, — I  relate  it  with  a  blush — have 


ROB  OF  THE   BOWL.  15 

been  pillaged,  to  furnish  building  materials  for  an 
unsightly  church,  which  now  obtrusively  presents  its 
mottled,  mortar-stained  arid  shabby  front  to  the  view 
of  the  visitor,  immediately  beside  the  wreck  of  this 
early  monument  of  the  founders  of  Maryland.  Over 
these  ruins  a  storm-shaken  and  magnificent  mulberry, 
aboriginal,  and  cotemporary  with  the  settlement  of 
the  province,  yet  rears  its  shattered  and  topless  trunk, 
and  daily  distils  upon  the  sacred  relics  at  its  foot,  the 
dews  of  heaven, — an  august  and  brave  old  mourner 
to  the  departed  companions  of  its  prime.  There  is 
yet  another  memorial  in  the  family  tomb  of  the  Pro 
prietary,  whose  long-respected  and  holy  repose,  be 
neath  the  scant  shade  of  the  mulberry,  has,  within 
twenty  years  past,  been  desecrated  by  a  worse  than 
Vandal  outrage,  and  whose  lineaments  may  now  with 
difficulty  be  followed  amidst  the  rubbish  produced  by 
this  violation. 

These  faded  memorials  tell  their  story  like  honest 
chroniclers.  And  a  brave  story  it  is  of  hardy  adven 
ture,  and  manly  love  of  freedom  !  The  scattered 
bricks,  all  moulded  in  the  mother-land,  remind  us  of 
the  launching  of  the  bark,  the  struggle  with  the  unfa 
miliar  wave,  the  array  of  the  wonder-stricken  savage, 
and  the  rude  fellowship  of  the  first  meeting.  They 
recall  the  hearths  whose  early  fires  gleamed  upon 
the  visage  of  the  bold  cavalier,  while  the  deep,  uncon 
querable  faith  of  religion,  and  the  impassioned  in 
stincts  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  devotion  to  liberty,  were 
breathed  by  household  groups,  in  customary  house- 


16  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

hold  terms.  They  speak  of  sudden  alarms,  and  quick 
arming  for  battle ; — of  stout  resolve,  and  still  stouter 
achievement.  They  tell  of  the  victory  won,  and 
quiet  gradually  confirmed, — and  of  the  increasing 
rapture  as,  day  by  day,  the  settler's  hopes  were  con 
verted  into  realities,  when  he  saw  the  wilderness  put 
forth  the  blossoms  of  security  and  comfort. 

The  river  penetrates  from  the  Potomac  some  twelve 
miles  inland,  where  it  terminates  in  little  forked  bays 
which  wash  the  base  of  the  woody  hills.    St.  George's 
Island  stretches  half  across   its   mouth,  forming  a 
screen  by  which  the  course  of  the  Potomac  is  partly 
concealed   from   view.     From   this   island,   looking 
northward,  up  St.  Mary's  river,  the  eye  rests  upon  a 
glittering  sheet  of  water  about  a  league  in  breadth, 
bounded  on   either  shore  by  low  meadow-grounds 
and  cultivated   fields   girt  with  borders   of  forest; 
whilst  in  the  distance,  some  two  leagues  upward, 
interlocking  promontories,  with   highlands   in   their 
rear,  and  cedar-crowned  cliffs  and  abrupt  acclivities 
•which  shut  in  the  channel,  give  to  the  river  the  fea 
tures  of  a  lake.     St.  Inigoe's  creek,  flowing  into  the 
river  upon  the  right  hand,  along  the  base  of  these 
cliffs,  forms  by  its  southern  shore  a  flat,  narrow  and 
grass-clad  point,  upon  which  the  ancient  Jesuit  House 
of  the  patron  saint  whose  name  distinguishes  the 
creek,  throws  up,  in  sharp  relief,  its  chateau-like  pro 
file,  together  with  its  windmill,  its  old  trees,  barns  and 
cottages, — the  whole  suggesting  a  resemblance  to  a 
strip  of  pasteboard  scenery  on  a  prolonged  and  slen 
der  base  line  of  green. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  17 

When  the  voyager  from  the  island  has  trimmed  his 
sail  and  reached  the  promontories  which  formed  his 
first  perspective,  the  river,  now  reduced  to  a  gun-shot 
in  width,  again  opens  to  his  view  a  succession  of  little 
bays,  intercepted  by  more  frequent  headlands  and 
branching  oft'  into  sinuous  creeks  that  lose  them 
selves  in  the  hills.  Here  and  there,  amongst  these 
creeks,  a  slender  beach  of  white  sand  separates 
from  its  parent  flood  a  pool,  which  reposes  like  a 
mirror  in  the  deep  forest;  and  all  around,  high  hills 
sweep  down  upon  these  placid  lakes,  and  disclose 
half-embowered  cottages,  whose  hoary  roofs  and 
antique  forms  turn  the  musings  of  the  spectator  to 
the  palmy  days  of  the  Lord  Proprietary. 

A  more  enchanting  landscape  than  St.  Mary's 
river, — a  lovelier  assemblage  of  grassy  bank  and 
hoary  grove,  upland  slope,  cliff,  cot  and  strand,  of 
tangled  brake  and  narrow  bay,  broad,  seaward  road 
stead  and  air-suspended  cape,  may  not  be  found  be 
neath  the  yearly  travel  of  the  sun  ! 

The  ancient  city  was  situated  nearly  two  miles 
beyond  the  confluence  of  St.  Inigoe's  creek,  upon  a 
spacious  level  plain  which  maintained  an  elevation 
of  some  fifty  feet  above  the  river.  The  low-browed, 
double-roofed  and  cumbrous  habitations  of  the  towns 
people  were  scattered  at  random  over  this  plain,  form 
ing  snug  and  pleasant  groups  for  a  painter's  eye,  and 
deriving  an  air  of  competence  and  comfort  from  the 
gardens  and  bowers  in  which  they  were  sheltered. 
The  State  House  stood  at  the  upper  extremity  of  the 
town,  upon  a  cedar-clad  headland  which,  by  an  abrupt 
2* 


18  ROB  OF  THE   BOWL. 

descent,  terminated  in  a  long,  flat,  sandy  point,  that 
reached  almost  half  across  the  river.  In  regard  to 
this  building,  tradition — which  I  find  to  be  somewhat 
inclined  to  brag  of  its  glory — affirms  it  to  have  been 
constructed  in  the  shape  of  a  cross,  looking  towards 
the  river,  with  walls  thick  enough  to  resist  cannon, 
and  perilous  steep  roofs,  from  the  top  of  the  chief  of 
which  shot  up  a  spire,  whereon  was  impaled  a  dol 
phin  with  a  crooked,  bifurcated  tail.  A  wooden  quay 
and  warehouse  on  the  point  showed  this  to  be  the 
seat  of  trade,  and  a  crescent-shaped  bay  or  indenta 
tion  between  this  and  a  similar  headland  at  the  lower 
extremity  of  the  town,  constituted  the  anchorage  or 
harbour  for  the  scant  shipping  of  the  port. 

The  State  House  looked  rearward  over  the  town 
common, — a  large  space  of  open  ground,  at  the  far 
ther  end  of  which,  upon  the  border  of  a  marshy  inlet, 
covered  with  bulrushes  and  cat-tails,  stood  a  squat, 
sturdy  and  tight  little  gaol,  supported, — to  use  the 
military  phrase, — on  one  flank  by  a  pillory  and  stocks, 
and  on  the  other  by  an  implement  of  government 
which  has  gone  out  of  fashion  in  our  day,  but  which 
found  favour  with  our  ancestors  as  an  approved  anti 
dote  to  the  prevalent  distemper  of  an  unnecessary  or 
too  clamorous  loquacity  in  their  dames — a  ducking 
stool,  that  hung  suspended  over  a  pool  of  sufficient 
depth  for  the  most  obstinate  case  that  might  occur. 

Without  wearying  my  reader  with  too  much  de* 
scription,  I  shall  content  myself  with  referring  to  but 
two  or  three  additional  particulars  as  necessary  to 
my  future  purpose :  a  Catholic  chapel  devoted  to  St. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  19 

Ignatius,  the  patron  of  the  province,  in  humble  and 
unostentatious  guise,  occupied,  with  its  appurtenances, 
a  few  acres  in  the  centre  of  the  plain,  a  short  distance 
from  that  confine  of  the  city  which  lay  nearest  to  St. 
Inigoe's ;  and  in  the  opposite  quarter,  not  far  from  the 
State  House,  a  building  of  much  more  pretension, 
though  by  no  means  so  neat,  had  been  erected  for 
the  service  of  the  Church  of  England,  which  was 
then  fast  growing  into  the  ascendant.  On  one  of  the 
streets  leading  to  the  beach  was  the  market  house, 
surrounded  by  its  ordinaries  and  ale-houses:  and 
lastly,  in  the  year  1681,  to  which  this  description 
refers,  a  little  hostelry  of  famous  report,  known  by 
the  sign  of  "  The  Crow  and  Archer,"  and  kept  by 
Master  Garret  Weasel,  stood  on  the  water's  edge, 
at  the  foot  of  the  bank  below  the  State  House,  on  a 
piece  of  level  ground  looking  out  upon  the  harbour, 
where  the  traveller  may  still  find  a  luxuriant  wilder 
ness  of  pear  trees,  the  scions  of  a  notable  ancestor 
which,  tradition  says,  the  aforesaid  Garret  planted 
with  his  own  hand. 

The  country  around  St.  Mary's  bore,  at  the  period 
I  have  designated,  the  same  broad  traces  of  settle 
ment  and  cultivation  which  belong  to  it  at  the  present 
day.  For  many  miles  the  scene  was  one  of  varied 
field  and  forest,  studded  over  with  dwellings  and 
farm  yards.  The  settlements  had  extended  across 
the  neck  of  land  to  the  Chesapeake,  and  along  both 
shores  of  St.  Mary's  river  to  the  Potomac.  This 
open  country  was  diversified  by  woodland,  and  enli 
vened  every  where  by  the  expanse  of  navigable 


20  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

water  which  reflected  sun  and  sky,  grove  and  field 
and  lowly  cottage  in  a  thousand  beautiful  lights. 
Indeed,  all  the  maritime  border  of  the  province,  com 
prehending  Calvert,  St.  Mary's  and  Charles,  as  well 
as  the  counties  on  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Chesa 
peake,  might  be  said,  at  this  date,  to  be  in  a  condi 
tion  of  secure  and  prosperous  habitation.  The  great 
ocean  forest  had  receded  some  hundred  miles  west 
ward  from  St.  Mary's.  The  region  of  country  com 
prising  the  present  county  of  Anne  Arundel,  as  well 
as  Cecil  and  the  Isle  of  Kent,  was  a  frontier  already 
settled  with  numerous  tenants  of  the  Lord  Proprie 
tary.  All  westward  from  this  was  the  birthright  of 
the  stern  Sasquesahannoch,  the  fierce  Shenandoah, 
and  their  kindred  men  of  the  woods. 

They  are  gone!  Like  shadows  have  these  men  of 
might  sunk  on  the  earth.  They,  their  game,  their 
wigwams,  their  monuments,  their  primeval  forests, — 
yea,  even  their  graves,  have  flitted  away  in  this  spec 
tral  flight.  Saxon  and  Norman,  bluff  Briton  and 
heavy  Suabian  inherit  the  land.  And  in  its  turn, 
well-a-day  !  our  pragmatical  little  city  hath  departed. 
Not  all  its  infant  glory,  nor  its  manhood's  bustle,  its 
walls,  gardens  and  bowers, — its  warm  housekeeping, 
its  gossiping  burghers,  its  politics  and  its  factions, — 
not  even  its  prolific  dames  and  gamesome  urchins 
could  keep  it  in  the  upper  air  until  this  our  day. 
Alas,  for  the  vaulting  pride  of  the  village,  the  vain 
glory  of  the  city,  and  the  metropolitan  boast !  St. 
Mary's  hath  sunk  to  the  level  of  Tyre  and  Sidon, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  21 

Balbec  and  Palmyra !  She  hath  become  trackless, 
tokenless. 

I  have  wandered  over  the  blank  field  where  she 
sank  down  to  rest.  It  was  a  book  whose  characters 
I  could  scarce  decipher.  I  asked  for  relics  of  the 
departed.  The  winter  evening  tale  told  by  father  to 
son,  and  the  written  legend,  more  durable  than  monu 
ment  of  marble,  have  survived  to  answer  my  ques 
tion,  when  brick  and  tile,  hearth  and  tomb  have  all 
vanished  from  the  quest  of  the  traveller. 

What  I  have  gathered  from  these  researches  will 
occupy  my  reader  through  the  following  pages. 


22  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  II. 


A  train-band  captain  eke  was  he. 

JOHX  GlLPIN. 


AT  the  extremity  of  the  cape  or  headland  which 
formed  the  lower  or  more  seaward  point  of  the  cres 
cent-shaped  harbour,  was  erected  the  Fort  of  St. 
Mary's,  where  it  threatened  equal  defiance  to  such 
as  might  meditate  disturbance  either  by  sea  or  land. 
A  few  hundred  paces  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  stood 
the  ample  dwelling-house  of  the  Lord  Proprietary 
with  its  gables,  roofs,  chimneys  and  spires,  sharply 
defined  against  the  eastern  sky.  A  massive  building 
of  dark  brick,  two  stories  in  height,  and  penetrated 
by  narrow  windows,  looking  forth,  beyond  the  fort, 
upon  the  river,  constituted  the  chief  member  or  main 
body  of  the  mansion.  This  was  capped  by  a  wooden, 
balustraded  parapet,  terminating,  at  each  extremity, 
in  a  scroll  like  the  head  of  a  violin,  and,  in  the  mid 
dle,  sustaining  an  entablature  that  rose  to  a  summit 
on  which  was  mounted  a  weathercock.  From  this 
central  structure,  right  and  left,  a  series  of  arcades, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  23 

corridors,  and  vestibules  served  to  bring  into  line  a 
range  of  auxiliary  or  subordinate  buildings  of  gro 
tesque  shapes,  of  which  several  were  bonneted  like 
haycocks — the  array  terminating,  on  one  flank,  in  a 
private  chapel  surmounted  by  a  cross,  and,  on  the 
other,  in  a  building  of  similar  size  but  of  different 
figure,  which  was  designed  and  sometimes  used  for 
a  banqueting  room.  The  impression  produced  on 
the  observer,  by  this  orderly  though  not  uniform 
mass  of  building,  with  its  various  offices  for  house 
hold  comfort,  was  not  displeasing  to  his  sense  of  rural 
beauty,  nor,  from  its  ample  range  and  capacious  ac 
commodation,  did  it  fail  to  enhance  his  opinion  of  the 
stateliness  and  feudal  importance,  as  well  as  of  the 
hospitality  of  the  Lord  Proprietary.  The  armorial 
bearings  of  the  Baltimore  family,  emblazoned  on  a 
shield  of  free-stone,  were  built  into  the  pediment 
of  an  arched  brick  porch  which  shaded  the  great 
hall  door.  In  the  rear  of  the  buildings,  a  circular 
sweep  of  wall  and  paling  reached  as  far  as  a  group 
of  stables,  kennels  and  sheds.  Vanward  the  same 
kind  of  enclosures,  more  ornate  in  their  fashion,  shut 
in  a  grassy  court,  to  which  admission  was  gained 
through  a  heavy  iron  gate  swung  between  square, 
stuccoed  pillars,  each  of  which  was  surmounted  by 
a  couchant  lion  carved  in  stone.  Ancient  trees 
shaded  the  whole  mass  of  dwelling-house,  court  and 
stable,  and  gave  to  the  place  both  a  lordly  and  com 
fortable  aspect.  It  was  a  pleasant  group  of  roof  and 
bower,  of  spire  and  tree  to  look  upon  from  the  city, 


24  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

towards  sunset,  when  every  window-pane  flung  back 
the  lustre  of  a  conflagration;  and  magnificently  did 
it  strike  upon  the  eye  of  the  liegemen  as  they  sat  at 
their  doors,  at  that  hour,  gazing  upon  the  glorious 
river  and  its  tranquil  banks.  Nor  less  pleasant  was 
it  to  the  inmates  of  the  baronial  mansion  to  look  back 
upon  the  fair  village-city,  studding  the  level  plain 
with  its  scattered  dwellings  which  seemed  to  sleep 
upon  the  grassy  and  shaded  sward. 

A  garden  occupied  the  space  between  the  pro 
prietary  residence  and  the  fort,  and  through  it  a  path 
way  led  to  a  dry  moat  which  formed  one  of  the  de 
fences  of  the  stronghold,  into  which  admission  was 
obtained  from  this  quarter  by  a  narrow  bridge  and 
postern  gate.  A  palisade  of  sharp  pickets  fringed 
the  outer  and  inner  slopes  of  the  ditch, — or,  to  speak 
more  technically,  guarded  the  scarp  and  counter 
scarp.  The  fort  itself  sat  like  a  square  bonnet  on 
the  brow  of  the  headland.  Its  ramparts  of  earth 
were  faced  outwardly  by  heavy  frame-work  of  hewn 
logs,  which,  on  the  side  looking  askant  towards  the 
town,  were  penetrated  by  an  arched  gateway  and 
secured  by  heavy  doors  studded  thick  with  nails. 
This  portal  opened  upon  a  road  which  lay  along  the 
beach  beneath  the  cliff,  all  the  way  to  the  upper  ex 
tremity  of  the  town.  Several  low  buildings  within, 
appropriated  to  barracks  and  magazines,  just  peered 
above  the  ramparts.  A  few  pieces  of  brass  cannon 
showed  like  watch-dogs  against  the  horizon,  and, 
high  above  all,  fluttered  the  provincial  banner  bear 
ing  the  cross  of  England,  and  holding  the  relation  of 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  25 

a  feather  to  the  squat  bonnet  which  the  outline  of  the 
work  might  suggest  to  one  curious  to  trace  resem 
blances. 

The  province,  it  may  be  surmised,  was  belligerent 
at  this  day.  For  although  the  Lords  Barons  of  Bal 
timore,  absolute  Proprietaries  of  Maryland  and 
Avalon,  would  fain  have  encouraged  a  pacific  tem 
per,  and  desired  ever  to  treat  with  the  Indians  upon 
terms  of  friendly  bargain  and  sale,  and  in  all  points 
of  policy  manifested  an  equitable  disposition  towards 
the  native  men  of  the  forest,  the  province,  neverthe 
less,  had  its  full  share  of  hard  blows.  There  was 
seldom  a  period,  in  this  early  time,  when  some  Indian 
quarrel  was  not  coming  to  a  head ;  and,  young  as 
the  province  was,  it  had  already  tasted  of  rebellion 
at  the  hands  of  Clayborne,  and  Ingle, — to  say  nothing 
of  that  Fendall  who  was  fain  to  play  Cromwell  in 
the  plantation,  by  turning  the  burgesses  out  of  their 
hall,  and  whose  sedition  hath  still  something  to  do 
with  my  story. — However  peaceable,  therefore,  the 
Lord  Proprietary  might  incline  to  be,  he  could  not 
but  choose  stand  by  his  weapons. 

In  the  view  of  these  and  kindred  troubles,  the  free 
men  of  the  province  had  no  light  service  in  their 
obligations  of  military  duty.  One  of  the  forms  in 
which  this  service  was  exacted,  in  addition  to  the 
occasional  requisition,  on  emergency,  of  the  whole 
population  fit  to  bear  arms,  and  in  addition  also  to  a 
force  of  mounted  rangers  who  were  constantly  en 
gaged  in  scouring  the  frontier,  was  in  the  main 
tenance  of  a  regularly  paid  and  trained  body  of 

VOL.  I.— 3 


26  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

musqueteers  who  supplied  the  necessary  garrisons 
for  the  principal  forts.  That  of  St.  Mary's,  which 
was  the  oldest  and  most  redoubtable  strong-hold  in 
the  province,  was  furnished  with  a  company  of  forty 
men  of  this  class  who  were,  at  the  date  of  this  tale, 
under  the  command  of  a  personage  of  some  note, 
Captain  Jasper  Dauntrees,  to  whom  I  propose  to  in 
troduce  my  reader  with  something  more  than  the 
slight  commendation  of  a  casual  acquaintance. 

This  worthy  had  been  bred  up  to  the  science  of 
arms  from  early  youth,  and  had  seen  many  varieties 
of  service, — first,  in  the  civil  wars  in  which  he  took 
the  field  with  the  royal  army,  a  staunch  cavalier, — 
and  afterwards,  with  a  more  doubtful  complexion  of 
loyalty,  when  he  enlisted  with  Monk  in  Scotland,  and 
followed  his  banner  to  London  in  the  notable  exploit 
of  the  Restoration.  Yielding  to  the  bent  of  that  hu 
mour  which  the  times  engendered,  and  in  imitation 
of  many  a  hungry  and  peace-despising  gallant  of  his 
day,  he  repaired  to  the  continent,  where,  after  various 
fortunes,  he  found  himself  in  the  train  of  Turenne 
and  hard  at  loggerheads  with  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
in  which  passage  of  his  life  he  enjoyed  the  soldierly 
gratification  of  lending  a  hand  to  the  famous  ravage 
of  the  Palatinate. 

Some  few  years  before  I  have  presented  him  in 
these  pages  he  had  come  over  to  Maryland,  with  a 
party  of  Flemings,  to  gather  for  his  old  age  that 
harvest  of  wealth  and  ease  which  the  common  report 
promised  to  all  who  set  foot  upon  the  golden  shores 
of  the  Indies — Maryland,  in  vulgar  belief,  being  a 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  27 

part  of  this  land  of  wonders.  The  captain  neither 
stumbled  upon  a  gold  mine,  nor  picked  up  an  Indian 
princess  with  a  dowry  of  diamonds ;  but  he  fared 
scarce  worse,  in  his  own  estimation,  when  he  found 
himself,  in  a  pleasant  sunny  clime,  invested  with  the 
rank  of  captain  of  musqueteers,  with  a  snug  shelter 
in  the  fort,  a  reasonably  fair  and  punctual  allowance 
of  pay — much  better,  than  had  been  his  lot  under 
former  masters, — and  a  frank  welcome  at  all  times 
into  the  mansion  of  the  Lord  Proprietary.  Add  to 
these  the  delights  more  congenial  to  the  training  of 
his  past  life,  a  few  wet  companions,  namely,  to  help 
him  through  an  evening  potation,  and  no  despicable 
choice  of  wines  and  other  comforts  at  the  Crow  and 
Archer,  where  the  Captain  with  due  alacrity  became 
a  domesticated  and  privileged  guest,  and  it  may  still 
better  be  comprehended  how  little  he  was  likely  to 
repine  at  his  fortune. 

His  figure  had,  in  youth,  been  evidently  remarked 
for  strength  and  symmetry — but  age  and  varied  ser 
vice,  combined  with  habits  of  irregular  indulgence, 
had  communicated  to  it  a  bluff  and  corpulent  dimen 
sion.  His  port  nevertheless  was  erect,  and  his  step 
as  firm  as  in  his  days  of  lustihood.  His  eye  still 
sparkled  with  rays  but  little  quenched  by  time,  al 
though  unseasonable  vigils  sometimes  rendered  it 
bloodshotten.  A  thick  neck  and  rosy  complexion 
betokened  a  hale  constitution;  arid  the  ripple  of  a 
deep  and  constantly  welling  humour,  that  played 
upon  his  strongly  marked  features,  expressed  in  cha 
racters  that  could  not  be  misread,  that  love  of  com- 


28  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

panionship  which  had  been,  perhaps,  the  most 
frequent  shoal  upon  which  his  hopes  in  life  had  been 
stranded.  His  crown  was  bald  and  encircled  by  a 
fair  supply  of  crisp,  curly  and  silvery  hair,  whilst  a 
thick  grey  moustache  gave  a  martial  and  veteran  air 
to  his  visnomy. 

His  dress  served  to  set  off  his  figure  to  the  best 
advantage.  It  consisted  of  the  doublet  and  ruff, 
short  cloak  and  trunk  hose,  the  parti-coloured  stock 
ing  and  capacious  boot  proper  to  the  old  English 
costume  which,  about  the  period  of  the  Restoration, 
began  to  give  way  to  the  cumbrous  foppery  of  the 
last  century.  This  costume  was  still  retained  by 
many  in  the  province,  and  belonged  to  the  military 
equipment  of  the  garrison  of  St.  Mary's,  where  it 
was  fashioned  of  light  green  cloth  garnished  with 
yellow  lace. 

Arrayed  in  this  guise,  Captain  Dauntrees  had  some 
excuse  for  a  small  share  of  vanity  on  the  score  of 
having  worn  well  up  to  a  green  old  age;  and  it  was 
manifest  that  he  sought  to  improve  this  impression  by 
the  debonair  freedom  with  which  he  wore  a  drab 
beaver,  with  its  broad  flap  looped  up  on  one  side, 
leaving  his  ample  brow  bared  to  wind  and  weather. 

This  combination  of  the  martinet  and  free  com 
panion  exhibited  in  the  dress  of  the  Captain,  was  a 
pretty  intelligible  index  to  his  character,  which  dis 
closed  a  compound,  not  unfrequent  in  the  civil  wars 
of  that  period,  of  the  precisian  and  ruffler, — the  ca 
valier  and  economist.  In  the  affairs  of  life, — a  phrase 
which,  in  regard  to  him,  meant  such  matters  princi- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  20 

pally  and  before  all  others,  as  related  to  his  own 
comfort — he  was  worldly-wise,  sagaciously  provi 
dent,  as  an  old  soldier,  of  whatever  advantages  his 
condition  might  casually  supply;  in  words,  he  was, 
indifferently,  according  to  the  occasion,  a  moralist 
or  hot-brained  reveller — sometimes  affecting  the 
courtier  along  with  the  martialist,  and  mixing  up  the 
saws  of  peaceful  thrift  with  the  patter  of  the  cam 
paigns. 

As  the  occasions  of  my  story  may  enable  me  to 
illustrate  some  of  these  points  in  the  character  of  the 
worthy  Captain,  I  will  not  forestall  the  opinion  of  my 
readers,  regarding  him,  by  further  remark, — prefer 
ring  that  he  should  speak  for  himself,  rather  than 
leave  his  merits  to  be  certified  by  so  unpractised  an 
adept,  as  I  confess  myself  to  be,  in  unriddling  the 
secret  properties  of  a  person  so  deserving  to  be 
known, 


30  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  III. 


"  In  every  creed, 
"I'is  on  all  hands  agreed, 
And  plainly  confest, 
When  the  weather  is  hot, 
That  we  stick  to  the  pot 
And  drink  of  the  best." 

OLD  SONG. 


"  OF  all  seasons  of  the  year,  autumn  is  the  most 
voluptuous,  and  October  the  loveliest  of  months. 
Then  may  a  man  sit  at  his  door — in  the  sun  if  he 
choose,  for  he  will  not  find  it  too  hot — or  in  the  shade, 
if  it  liketh  him,  for  neither  will  he  find  this  too  cool, 
and  there  hold  converse  with  his  own  meditations :  or 
he  may  ride  or  walk,  dance  or  sing,  for  in  this  Octo 
ber  time  a  man  hath  heart  for  any  pastime,  so  rich 
is  the  air,  and  such  pleasant  imaginations  doth  it  en 
gender.  And  if  he  be  poetical,  therein  will  he  be 
greatly  favoured ;  for  surely  never  nature  puts  on 
such  gaudy  attire,  on  earth  or  sky,  as  she  wears  in 
our  October.  The  morning  haze,  which  the  hoar 
frost  flings  up  to  meet  the  sun,  hangs  across  the  land 
scape  as  if  made  on  purpose  to  enchant  the  painter ; 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  31 

and  the  evening  sunset  lights  up  the  heavens  with  a 
glory  that  shall  put  that  painter — even  Claude  or  Sal- 
vator — to  shame  at  the  inadequacy  A  his  art.  And 
then  the  woods ! — what  pallet  hath  colours  for  the 
forest?  Of  all  the  months  of  the  year,  commend  me 
to  October!" 

Some  such  rhapsody  as  this  was  running  through 
the  thoughts,  and  breaking  forth  in  slight  mutterings 
from  the  lips  of  the  Captain  of  Musqueteers,  on  an 
afternoon  in  this  much  lauded  month  of  October,  in 
the  year  I  have  alluded  to  in  a  former  chapter,  as  he 
sate  in  front  of  his  quarters  in  the  fort.  A  small  table 
was  displayed  upon  the  pavement,  supplied  with  a 
flagon,  pipes,  and  drinking  cups.  The  Captain's  solid 
bulk  was  deposited  in  a  broad  arm-chair,  close  by  the 
table.  His  sword  and  cloak  lay  upon  a  bench  at  the 
door,  and  a  light  breeze  flickered  amongst  his  short 
and  hoary  locks,  where  they  escaped  from  the  cover 
of  a  cloth  bonnet  which  he  had  now  substituted  for  his 
beaver.  A  sentinel  stood  on  post  at  the  gate,  towards 
which  the  Captain,  as  he  slowly  quaffed  a  cup,  ever 
and  anon  turned  an  expectant  eye.  Once  or  twice 
he  rose  from  his  seat  and  strode  backward  and  for 
ward  across  the  parade,  then  visited  the  rampart, 
which  afforded  him  a  view  of  the  road  leading  from 
the  town,  and  finally  resumed  his  seat  and  renewed 
his  solitary  and  slow  potation. 

When  the  sun  had  sunk  halfway  down  the  flag 
staff,  the  Captain's  wishes  were  crowned  by  the  arri 
val  of  a  brace  of  visiters. 

The  first  of  these  was  Garret  Weasel,  the  publican, 


32  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

a  thin,  small  man,  in  a  suit  of  gray ;  of  a  timid  car 
riage  and  slender  voice.  He  might  have  been  ob 
served  for  a  restless,  undefinable  eye  which  seemed 
to  possess  the  habitual  circumspection  of  a  tapster  to 
see  the  need  of  a  customer ;  and  this  expression  was 
sustained  by  a  rabbit-like  celerity  of  motion  which 
raised  the  opinion  of  his  timidity.  There  was  an  air 
of  assentation  and  reverence  in  his  demeanour,  which, 
perhaps,  grew  out  of  the  domestic  discipline  of  his 
spouse,  a  buxom  dame  with  the  heart  of  a  lioness. 
She  had  trained  Master  Garret  to  her  hand,  where  he 
might  have  worn  out  his  days  in  implicit  obedience, 
had  it  not  luckily  fallen  out  for  him,  that  Captain 
Dauntrees  had  settled  himself  down  in  this  corner  of 
the  New  World.  The  Captain  being  a  regular  traffick 
er  in  the  commodities  of  the  Crow  and  Archer,  and  no 
whit  over-awed  by  the  supremacy  of  mine  hostess, 
soon  set  himself  about  seducing  her  worse-half  from 
his  allegiance,  so  far  as  was  necessary,  at  least,  to 
satisfy  his  own  cravings  for  company  at  the  fort. 
He  therefore  freely  made  himself  the  scapegoat 
of  Garret's  delinquencies,  confiding  in  the  wheedling 
power  of  his  tongue,  to  pacify  the  dame.  With 
all  the  tapster's  humility  and  meekness,  he  still  follow 
ed  the  Captain  through  his  irregularities  with  the  ad 
hesiveness  and  submission  of  a  dog — carousing  on 
occasion  like  a  man  of  stouter  mould,  and  imitating 
the  reveller-tone  of  his  companion  with  an  ambitious 
though  not  always  successful  zeal.  He  did  not  na 
turally  lack  merriment ;  but  it  was  not  of  the  boister 
ous  stamp :  there  was,  at  his  worst  outbreak,  a  glim- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  33 

mering  of  deference  and  respect,  rising  up  to  a  rickety 
laugh,  and  a  song  sometimes,  yet  without  violent 
clamour ;  and  the  salt  tears  were  often  wrung  from 
his  eyes  by  the  pent-up  laughter  which  his  vocation 
and  his  subordinate  temper  had  taught  him  it  was 
unseemly  to  discharge  in  a  volley. 

His  companion  was  a  tall,  sinewy,  and  grave  per 
son,  habited  in  the  guise  of  a  forester — a  cap,  namely, 
of  undressed  deer  skin,  a  buff  jerkin,  guarded  by  a 
broad  belt  and  buckle  at  the  waist,  and  leggings  of 
brown  leather.  This  was  a  Fleming,  named  Arnold 
de  la  Grange,  who  belonged  to  the  corps  of  wood 
rangers  in  the  service  of  the  Lord  Proprietary.  He 
had  arrived  in  the  province  in  the  time  of  Lord  Ceci- 
lius,  many  years  before,  and  had  shared  much  of  the 
toil  of  the  early  settlement.  His  weather-beaten  and 
gaunt  form,  tawny  cheek,  and  grizzled  hair,  bespoke 
a  man  inured  to  the  hard  service  of  a  frontier  life, 
whilst  his  erect  port  and  firm  step,  evinced  that  na 
tural  gracefulness  which  belongs  to  men  trained  to 
the  self-dependence  necessary  to  breast  the  ever- 
surrounding  perils  of  such  a  service.  He  was  a  man 
of  few  words,  and  these  were  delivered  in  a  Low 
Dutch  accent,  which  his  long  intercourse  with  the 
English  had  failed  to  correct.  When  his  service  on 
his  range  was  intermitted,  Arnold  found  quarters 
amongst  the  retainers  of  the  Proprietary  mansion, 
and  the  Proprietary  himself  manifested  towards  the 
forester  that  degree  of  trust,  and  even  affection, 
which  resulted  from  a  high  sense  of  his  fidelity  and 
conduct,  and  which  gave  him  a  position  of  more  pri- 


34  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

vilege  than  was  enjoyed  by  the  other  dependents  of 
the  establishment.  Being,  at  these  intervals,  an  idler, 
he  was  looked  upon  with  favour  by  the  Captain  of  the 
fort,  who  was  not  slow  to  profit  by  the  society  of  such 
a  veteran  in  the  long  watches  of  a  dull  afternoon. 
By  a  customary  consequence,  Arnold  was  no  less  es 
teemed  by  the  publican. 

A  bluff  greeting  and  short  ceremony  placed  the 
visitors  at  the  table,  and  each,  upon  a  mute  signal 
from  the  host,  appropriated  his  cup  and  pipe. 

"  You  are  never  a  true  man,  Garret  Weasel,"  said 
the  Captain,  "  to  dally  so  long  behind  your  appoint 
ment  ;  and  such  an  appointment,  too !  state  matters 
would  be  trifles  to  it.  The  round  dozen  which  you 
lost  to  me  on  Dame  Dorothy's  head  gear — a  blessing 
on  it! — you  did  yourself  so  order  it,  was  to  be  broach 
ed  at  three  of  the  clock;  and  now,  by  my  troth,  it  is 
something  past  four.  There  is  culpable  laches  in  it. 
Idleness  is  the  canker  of  the  spirit,  but  occupation  is 
the  lard  of  the  body,  as  I  may  affirm  in  my  own  per 
son.  Mistress  Dorothy,  I  suspect,  has  this  tardy 
coming  to  answer  for.  I  doubt  the  brow  of  our 
brave  dame  hath  been  cloudy  this  afternoon.  How 
is  it,  Arnold1?  bachelor,  and  Dutchman  to  boot,  you 
will  speak  without  fear." 

"  The  woman,"  replied  Arnold,  in  a  broken  Eng 
lish  accent,  which  I  do  not  attempt  to  convey  in 
syllables,  "  had  her  suspicions." 

"  Hold  ye,  Captain  Dauntrees,"  eagerly  interrupted 
the  innkeeper,  drawing  up  his  chair  to  the  table — for 
he  had  seated  himself  a  full  arms-length  off,  in  awk- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  35 

ward  deference  to  his  host ;  "  and  hold  ye,  Master 
Arnold !  my  wife  rules  not  me,  as  some  evil-minded 
jesters  report:  no,  in  faith  !  We  were  much  beset  to 
day.  In  sooth  I  could  not  come  sooner.  Customers, 
you  know,  Captain,  better  than  most  men,  customers 
must  be  answered,  and  will  be  answered,  when  we 
poor  servants  go  athirst.  We  were  thronged  to-day; 
was  it  not  so,  Arnold  ?" 

"  That  is  true,"  replied  the  forester ;  "  the  wife  had 
her  hands  full  as  well  as  Garret  himself.  There  were 
traders  in  the  port,  to-day,  from  the  Bay  Shore  and 
the  Isle  of  Kent,  and  some  from  the  country  back, 
to  hear  whether  the  brigantine  had  arrived.  They 
had  got  some  story  that  Cocklescraft  should  be  here." 

"  I  see  it,"  said  Dauntrees ;  "  that  fellow,  Cockles- 
craft,  hath  a  trick  of  warning  his  friends.  He  never 
comes  into  port  but  there  be  strange  rumours  of  him 
ahead  ;  it  seems  to  be  told  by  the  pricking  of  thumbs. 
St.  Mary's  is  not  the  first  harbour  where  he  drops  his 
anchor,  nor  Anthony  Warden  the  first  to  docket  his 

cargo.     You  understand  me." 

° 

"  You  have  a  bold  mind,  Captain,"  said  the  pub 
lican  ;  "  you  men  of  the  wars  speak  your  thoughts." 

"  You  are  none  the  losers  by  Master  Cocklescraft," 
interposed  Arnold,  drily. 

"  My  wife  pays  honestly  for  the  liquors,"  said 
Weasel,  as  his  eye  glanced  timorously  from  one  to 
the  other  of  his  comrades ;  "  I  take  no  heed  of  the 
accounts." 

"  But  the  head  gear,  Garret,"  rejoined  Dauntrees, 
laughing ;  "  you  pay  for  that,  though  the  mercer  saw 


36  ROB  OF  THF  BOWL. 

my  coin  for  it.  Twelve  bottles  of  Canary  were  a 
good  return  on  that  venture.  The  bauble  sits  lightly 
on  the  head  of  the  dame,  and  it  is  but  fair  that  the 
winnings  should  rise  as  lightly  into  ours.  But  for 
Cocklescraft,  we  should  lack  these  means  to  be  merry. 
The  customs  are  at  a  discount  on  a  dark  night.  Well, 
be  it  so.  What  point  of  duty  calls  on  us  to  baulk  the 
skipper  in  his  trade  ?  We  are  of  the  land,  not  of  the 
water ;  consumers,  on  the  disbursing  side  of  the  ac 
count,  not  of  the  gathering  in.  The  revenue  hath  its 
proper  friends,  and  we  should  neither  meddle  nor 
make.  Worthy  Garret  Weasel  has  good  report  in 
the  province  for  the  reasonableness  of  his  wines — 
and  long  may  he  deserve  that  commendation !" 

"  I  thank  heaven  that  I  strive  to  merit  the  good 
will  of  the  freemen,"  interrupted  the  innkeeper. 

"And  he  is  something  given  to  brag  of  his  wines. 
Faith,  and  with  reason!  Spain  and  Portugal,  the 
Garonne  arid  the  Rhine,  are  his  tributaries.  Garret, 
we  know  the  meridian  of  your  El  Dorado." 

"  Nay,  nay,  Master  Captain — your  worship  is 
merry ;  I  beseech  you — " 

"  Never  mind  your  beseeching,  my  modest  friend. 
You  scarce  do  yourself  justice.  You  have  his  Lord 
ship's  license  paid  for  in  good  round  ducatoons — and 
that's  the  fee  of  a  clear  conscience.  So  let  the  trade 
thrive !  The  exchequer  is  not  a  baby  to  be  in  swad 
dling  bands,  unable  to  feed  itself.  No,  it  has  the 
eagle's  claw,  and  wants  no  help  from  thee,  thou  for 
lorn  tapster !  Make  thine  honest  penny,  Garret ;  all 
thirsty  fellows  will  stand  by  thee." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  37 

"  I  would  be  thought  orderly,  Master  Dauntrees." 

"  Thou  art  so  computed — to  a  fault.  You  would 
have  been  so  reckoned  in  Lord  Cecil's  time;  and 
matters  are  less  straitened  now-a-days.  Lord  Charles 
gives  more  play  to  good  living  than  his  father  allow 
ed  of.  You  remember  his  Lordship's  father  set  his 
face  against  wines  and  strong  waters." 

"  He  did,  gentlemen,"  said  Weasel,  squaring  him 
self  in  his  seat  with  animation.  "Heaven  forbid  I 
should  speak  but  as  becomes  me  of  the  honourable 
Lord  Cecil's  memory,  or  of  his  honourable  son!  but 
to  my  cost,  I  know  that  his  Lordship's  father  was  no 
friend  to  evil  courses,  or  sottish  behaviour,  or  drink 
ing,  unless  it  was  in  moderation,  mark  you.  But,  with 
humility,  I  protest  the  law  is  something  hard  on  us 
poor  ordinary  keepers:  for  you  shall  understand, 
Arnold  Grange,  that  at  a  sale  by  outcry,  if  there 
should  lack  wherewithal  to  pay  the  debts  of  the 
debtor,  the  publican  and  vintner  are  shut  out,  seeing 
that  the  score  for  wines  and  strong  waters  is  the  last 
to  be  paid." 

"  And  good  law  it  is,  let  me  tell  you  Garret  Weasel ! 
Good  and  wholesome :  wisely  laid  down  by  the  bur 
gesses,  and  wisely  maintained  by  his  Lordship.  You 
rail  without  cause.  Sober  habits  must  be  engender 
ed : — your  health,  comrades  !  Then  it  behooves  you 
publicans  to  be  nice  in  your  custom.  We  will  none 
of  your  lurdans  that  can  not  pay  scot  and  lot — your 
runagates  that  fall  under  the  statute  of  outcry.  Let 
them  drink  of  the  clear  brook!  There  is  wisdom  and 
virtue  in  the  law.  Is  it  not  so,  Arnold'?" 

VOL.  I.— 4 


38  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  It  preaches  well,"  replied  the  forester,  as  he  sent 
forth  a  volume  of  smoke  from  his  lips. 

"  Another  flask,  and  we  will  drink  to  his  Lordship," 
said  Dauntrees,  who  now  left  the  table  and  returned 
with  the  fourth  bottle.  "  Fill  up,  friends;  the  evening 
wears  apace.  Here's  to  his  Lordship,  and  his  Lord 
ship's  ancestors  of  ever  noble  and  happy  memory  !" 

As  Dauntrees  smacked  his  lip  upon  emptying  his 
cup,  he  flung  himself  back  in  his  chair,  and  in  a 
thoughtful  tone  ejaculated  :  "  the  good  Lord  Charles 
has  had  a  heavy  time  of  it  since  his  return  from 
England ;  these  church  brawlers  would  lay  gunpow 
der  under  our  hearth-stones.  And  then  the  death  of 
young  Lord  Cecil,  whilst  his  father  was  abroad,  too ; 
it  was  a  heavy  blow.  My  lady  hath  never  held  up 
her  head  since." 

A  pause  succeeded  to  this  grave  reflection,  during 
which  the  trio  smoked  their  pipes  in  silence,  which 
was  at  length  broken  by  an  attenuated  sigh  from  the 
publican,  as  he  exclaimed,  "  Well-a-day !  the  great 
have  their  troubles  as  well  as  the  rest  of  us.  It  is  my 
opinion  that  Heaven  will  have  its  will,  Captain ;  that's 
my  poor  judgment."  And  having  thus  disburdened 
himself  of  this  weighty  sentiment — the  weight  of  it 
being  increased,  perhaps,  by  the  pressure  of  his  pre 
vious  potations — he  drained  the  heel  tap,  which  stood 
in  his  glass,  and  half  whispered,  when  he  had  done, 
"  That's  as  good  a  drop  of  Canary  as  ever  grew 
within  the  horizon  of  the  Peak  of  Teneriffe." 

"  Through  the  good  will  of  friend  Cocklescraft," 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  39 

interrupted  Dauntrees,  suddenly  resuming  his  former 
gaiety. 

"  Pray  you,  Captain  Dauntrees,"  said  the  publican, 
with  a  hurried  concern,  "  think  what  hurt  thy  jest 
may  bring  upon  me.  Arnold  knows  not  your  merry 
humour,  and  may  believe,  from  your  speech,  that  I 
am  not  reputable." 

"  Pish,  man ;  bridle  thy  foolish  tongue  !  Did  I  not 
see  the  very  cask  on't  at  Trencher  Rob's  ?  Did  I  not 
mark  how  your  sallow  cheek  took  on  an  ashen  com 
plexion,  when  his  Lordship's  Secretary,  a  fortnight 
since,  suddenly  showed  himself  amongst  the  cedars 
upon  the  bank  that  overlooks  your  door,  when  your 
ill  luck  would  have  you  to  be  rolling  the  cask  in 
open  day  into  thy  cellar.  The  secretary  was  in  a 
bookish  mood,  and  saw  thee  not — or,  peradventure, 
was  kind,  and  would  not  heed." 

To  this  direct  testimony,  Weasel  could  only  reply 
by  a  faint-hearted  and  involuntary  smile  which  sur 
rendered  the  point,  and  left  him  in  a  state  of  silly 
confusion. 

"  Never  droop  in  thy  courage,  worthy  Weasel," 
exclaimed  the  Captain ;  "  thou  art  as  honest  as  thy 
betters;  and,  to  my  mind,  the  wine  hath  a  better 
smack  from  its  overland  journey  from  St.  Jerome's 
when  there  was  no  sun  to  heat  it." 

"  The  secretary,"  said  the  innkeeper,  anxious  to 
give  the  conversation  another  direction,  "  is  a  wor 
shipful  youth,  and  a  modest,  and  grows  in  favour  with 
the  townspeople." 


40  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  Ay,  and  is  much  beloved  by  his  Lordship," 
added  the  Captain. 

"  And  comes,  I  warrant  me,  of  gentle  kind,  though 
I  have  not  heard  aught  of  his  country  or  friends. 
Dorothy,  my  wife,  says  that  the  women  almost  swear 
by  him,  for  his  quiet  behaviour  and  pretty  words — and 
they  have  eyes,  Captain  Dauntrees,  for  excellence 
which  we  have  not." 

"  There  is  a  cloud  upon  his  birth,"  said  Dauntrees, 
"  and  a  sorrowful  tale  touching  his  nurture.  I  had  it 
from  Burton,  the  master  of  the  ship  who  brought 
him  with  my  Lord  to  the  province." 

"  Indeed,  Captain  Dauntrees !  you  were  ever  quick 
to  pick  up  knowledge.  You  have  a  full  ear  and  a 
good  memory." 

"  Drink,  drink,  comrades  !"  said  the  Captain.  "  We 
should  not  go  dry  because  the  secretary  hath  had  mis 
haps.  If  it  please  you,  I  will  tell  the  story,  though 
I  will  not  vouch  for  the  truth  of  what  I  have  only  at 
second  hand." 

After  the  listeners  had  adjusted  themselves  in  their 
chairs,  Dauntrees  proceeded. 

"There  was,  in  Yorkshire,  a  Major  William 
Weatherby,  who  fought  against  the  Parliament — I 
did  not  know  him,  for  I  was  but  a  stripling  at  the 
time — who,  when  King  Charles  was  beheaded,  went 
over  and  took  service  with  the  States  General,  and 
at  Arnheim  married  a  lady  of  the  name  of  Verhey- 
den.  Getting  tired  of  the  wars,  he  came  back  to 
England  with  his  wife,  where  they  lived  together 
five  or  six  years  without  children.  The  story  goes 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  41 

that  he  was  a  man  of  fierce  and  crooked  temper-; 
choleric,  and  unreasonable  in  his  quarrel;  and  for 
jealousy,  no  devil  ever  equalled  him  in  that  amiable 
virtue.  It  was  said,  too,  that  his  living  was  riotous 
and  unthrifty,  which  is,  in  part,  the  customary  sin  of 
soldiership. — I  am  frank  with  you,  masters." 

"  You  are  a  good  judge,  Captain ;  you  have  had 
experience,"  said  the  publican. 

"  There  was  a  man  of  some  mark  in  the  country 
where  this  Weatherby  lived,  a  Sir  George  Alvvin, 
who,  taking  pity  on  the  unhappy  lady,  did  her  sundry 
acts  of  kindness — harmless  acts,  people  say;  such  as 
you  or  I,  neighbours,  would  be  moved  to  do  for  a  dis 
tressed  female;  but  the  lady  was  of  rare  beauty,  and 
the  husband  full  of  foul  fancies. 

"About  this  time,  it  was  unlucky  that  nature 
wrought  a  change,  and  the  lady  grew  lusty  for  the 
first  time  in  six  years  marriage.  To  make  the  story 
short,  Weatherby  was  free  with  his  dagger,  and  in 
the  street,  at  Doncaster,  in  the  midst  of  a  public  show, 
he  stabbed  Alwin  to  the  heart." 

The  wood  ranger  silently  shook  his  head,  and  the 
publican  opened  his  watery  eyes  in  astonishment. 

"  By  the  aid  of  a  fleet  horse  and  private  enemies 
of  the  murdered  man,  Wealherby  escaped  out  of  the 
kingdom,  and  was  never  afterwards  heard  of." 

"And  died  like  a  dog,  I  s'pose,"  said  Arnold  de  la 
Grange. 

"  Likely  eqough,"  replied  Dauntrees. 

"The  poor  lady  was  struck  down  with  the  horror 
of  the  deed,  and  had  nearly  gone  to  her  grave.  But 
4* 


42  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

Heaven  was  kind,  and  she  survived  it,  and  was  re 
lieved  of  her  burden  in  the  birth  of  a  son.  For  some 
years  afterwards,  by  the  bounty  of  friends,  but  with 
many  a  struggle — for  her  means  were  scanty — she 
made  shift  to  dwell  in  England.  At  last  she  returned 
to  Holland,  where  she  found  a  resting  place  in  her 
native  earth,  having  lived  long  enough  to  see  her  son, 
a  well  grown  lad>  safely  taken  in  charge  by  her  bro 
ther,  a  merchant  of  Antwerp.  The  parents  were 
both  attached  to  our  Church  of  Rome,  and  the  son 
was  sent  by  his  uncle  to  the  Jesuit  school  of  his  own 
city.  Misfortune  overtook  the  merchant,  and  he 
died  before  the  nephew  had  reached  his  fourteenth 
year.  But  the  good  priests  of  Antwerp  tended  the 
lad  with  the  care  of  parents,  and  would  have  reared 
him  as  a  servant  of  the  altar.  When  our  Lord  Bal 
timore  was  in  the  Netherlands,  three  years  ago,  he 
found  Albert  Verheyden,  (the  youth  has  ever  borne 
his  mother's  name,)  in  the  Seminary.  His  Lordship 
took  a  liking  to  him  and  brought  him  into  his  own 
service.  Master  Albert  was  then  but  eighteen.  There 
is  the  whole  story.  It  is  as  dry  as  a  muscat  raisin. 
It  sticks  in  the  throat,  masters, — so  moisten,  moisten !" 

"It  is  a  marvellous  touching  story,"  said  the  inn 
keeper,  as  he  swallowed  at  a  draught  a  full  goblet. 

"The  hot  hand  and  the  cold  steel,"  said  Arnold, 
thoughtfully,  "  hold  too  much  acquaintance  in  these 
times.  Master  Albert  is  an  honest  youth,  and  a  good 
youth,  and  a  brave  follower  too,  of  hawk  or  hound, 
Captain  Dauntrees." 

"  Then  there  is  good  reason  for  a  cup  to  the  secre- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  43 

tary,"  said  the  Captain,  filling  again.  "  The  world 
hath  many  arguments  for  a  thirsty  man.  The  blight 
of  the  year  fall  upon  this  sadness  !  Let  us  change  our 
discourse — I  would  carouse  a  little,  friends :  It  is 
salutary  to  laugh.  Thanks  to  my  patron,  I  am  a 
bachelor!  So  drink,  Master  Arnold,  mein  sauffbruder, 
as  we  used  to  say  on  the  Rhine." 

"Ich  trinck,  euch  zu,"  was  the  reply  of  the  forester, 
as  he  answered  the  challenge  with  a  sparkling  eye, 
and  a  face  lit  up  with  smiles;  "  a  good  lad,  an  excel 
lent  lad,  though  he  come  of  a  hot-brained  father !" 

The  wine  began  to  show  itself  upon  the  revellers; 
for  by  this  time  they  had  nearly  got  through  half  of 
the  complement  of  the  wager.  The  effect  of  this  po 
tation  upon  the  Captain  was  to  give  him  a  more  flush 
ed  brow,  and  a  rnoister  eye,  and  to  administer  some 
what  to  the  volubility  of  his  tongue.  It  had  wrought 
no  further  harm,  for  Dauntrees  was  bottle-proof. 
Upon  the  forester  it  was  equally  harmless,  rather 
enhancing  than  dissipating  his  saturnine  steadfastness 
of  demeanour.  He  was,  perchance,  somewhat  more 
precise  and  thoughtful.  Garret  Weasel,  of  the  three, 
was  the  only  weak  vessel.  With  every  cup  of  the 
last  half  hour  he  grew  more  supple. 

"Ads  hearllikens  !"  he  exclaimed,  "  but  this  wine 
doth  tingle,  Captain  Dauntrees.  Here  is  a  fig  for  my 
wife  Dorothy!  Come  and  go  as  you  list — none  of 
your  fetch  and  carry  !  that's  what  the  world  is  coming 
to,  amongst  us  married  cattle  !" 

"  Thou  art  a  valorous  tapster,"  said  the  Captain. 

"  I  am  the  man  to  stand   by  his  friend,  Captain 


44  ROB  or  THE  BOWL. 

mine ;  and  I  am  thy  friend,  Captain — Papist  or  Roman 
though  they  call  thee  !" 

"  A  man  for  need,  Garret !"  said  Dauntrees,  patting 
him  on  the  head ;  "  a  dozen  flasks  or  so,  when  a  friend 
wants  them,  come  without  the  asking." 

"  And  I  pay  my  wagers,  I  warrant,  Captain,  like  a 
true  comrade." 

"  Like  a  prince,  Garret,  who  does  not  stop  to  count 
the  score,  but  makes  sure  of  the  total  by  throwing  in 
a  handful  over." 

"  I  am  no  puritan,  Master  Dauntrees,  I  tell  thee." 
"Thou  hast  the  port  of  a  cavalier,  good  Wea 
sel.  Thou  wouldst  have  done  deadly  havoc  amongst 
the  round-heads,  if  they  but  took  thee  in  the  fact 
of  discharging  a  wager.  Thou  wert  scarce  in 
debt,  after  this  fashion,  at  Worcester,  my  valiant 
drawer.  Thy  evil  destiny  kept  thee  empty  on  that 
day." 

"Ha,  ha,  ha!  a  shrewd  memory  for  a  stale  jest, 
Captain  Dauntrees.  The  world  is  slanderous,  though 
I  care  little  for  it.  You  said  you  would  be  merry; 
shall  we  not  have  a  song?  Come,  troll  us  a  catch, 
Captain." 

"  I  am  of  thy  humour,  old  madcap;  I'll  wag  it  with 
thee  bravely,"  replied  Dauntrees,  as  he  struck  up  a 
brisk  drinking-bout  glee  of  that  day,  in  which  he  was 
followed  by  the  treble  voice  of  the  publican,  who  at 
the  same  time  rose  from  his  seat  and  accompanied 
the  music  with  some  unsteady  gyrations  in  the  man 
ner  of  a  dance  upon  the  gravel. 


ROB  OF  THE   BOWL.  45 

"From  too  much  keeping1  an  evil  decorum, 
From  the  manifold  treason  parliamentorum, 
From  Oliver  Cromwell,  dux  omnium  malorum, 

Libera  nos,  Libera  nos," 

Whilst  Dauntrees  and  his  gossips  were  thus  occu 
pied  in  their  carouse,  they  were  interrupted  by  the 
unexpected  arrival  of  two  well  known  persons,  who 
had  approached  by  the  path  of  the  postern  gate. 

The  elder  of  the  two  was  a  youth  just  on  the  verge 
of  manhood.  His  person  was  slender,  well  propor 
tioned,  and  rather  over  the  common  height.  His 
face,  distinguished  by  a  decided  outline  of  beauty, 
wore  a  thoughtful  expression,  which  was  scarcely 
overcome  by  the  flash  of  a  black  and  brilliant  eye. 
A  complexion  pale  and  even  feminine,  betokened  stu 
dious  habits.  His  dress,  remarkable  for  its  neatness, 
denoted  a  becoming  pride  of  appearance  in  the 
wearer.  It  told  of  the  Low  Countries.  A  well-fitted 
doublet  and  hose,  of  a  grave  colour,  were  partially 
concealed  by  a  short  camlet  cloak  of  Vandyke 
brown.  A  black  cap  and  feather,  a  profusion  of 
dark  hair  hanging  in  curls  towards  the  shoulders, 
and  a  falling  band  or  collar  of  lace,  left  it  unques 
tionable  that  the  individual  I  have  sketched  was  of 
gentle  nurture,  and  associated  with  persons  of  rank. 
This  was  further  manifested  in  the  gay  and  some 
what  gaudy  apparel  of  his  companion, — a  lad  of 
fourteen,  who  walked  beside  him  in  the  profusely 
decorated  costume  of  a  young  noble  of  that  ambi 
tious  era,  when  the  thoughtless  and  merry  monarch 
of  England,  instead  of  giving  himself  to  the  cares  of 


46  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

government,  was  busy  to  invent  extravagancies  of 
dress.  The  lad  was  handsome,  though  his  features 
wore  the  impress  of  feeble  health.  He  now  bore  in 
his  hand  a  bow  and  sheaf  of  arrows. 

The  visitors  had  taken  our  revellers  at  unawares, 
and  had  advanced  within  a  few  feet  before  they  were 
observed.  The  back  of  the  publican  was  turned  to 
them,  and  he  was  now  in  mid  career  of  his  dance, 
throwing  up  his  elbows,  tossing  his  head,  and  tread 
ing  daintily  upon  the  earth,  as  he  sang  the  burden, 

'W 

.  « 

"  Libera  nos,  libera  nos." 

"  You  give  care  a  holiday,  Captain  Dauntrees," 
said  the  elder  youth,  with  a  slightly  perceptible  fo 
reign  accent. 

Dauntrees  started  abruptly  from  his  seat,  at  this 
accost,  smiled  with  a  reddened  brow,  and  made  a 
low  obeisance.  The  cessation  of  the  song  left  Garret 
Weasel  what  a  mariner  would  term  "  high  and  dry," 
for  like  a  bark  floated  upon  a  beach  and  suddenly 
bereft  of  its  element,  he  remained  fixed  in  the  atti 
tude  at  which  the  music,  deserted  him, — one  foot 
raised,  an  arm  extended,  and  his  face  turned  inquir 
ingly  over  his  shoulder.  His  amazement  upon  disco 
vering  the  cause  of  this  interruption,  brought  about  a 
sudden  and  ludicrous  affectation  of  sobriety ;  in  an 
instant  his  port  was  changed  into  one  of  defer 
ence,  although  somewhat  awkwardly  overcharged 
with  what  was  intended  to  represent  gravity  and 
decorum. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  47 

Arnold  de  la  Grange  rose  from  his  chair  and 
stood  erect,  firm  and  silent. 

"Hail,  Master  Albert  Verheyden,  and  Master  Be 
nedict  Leonard:  God  save  you  both!"  said  Daun- 
trees. 

"  I  say  amen  to  that,  and  God  save  his  lordship, 
besides !"  ejaculated  the  publican  with  a  drunken 
formality  of  utterance. 

"  I  would  not  disturb  your  merriment,  friends," 
said  the  secretary,  "  but  his  lordship  bade  me  sum 
mon  Captain  Dauntrees  to  the  hall.  You,  Arnold  de 
la  Grange,  will  be  pleased  to  accompany  the  Cap 
tain." 

Arnold  bowed  his  head,  and  the  visitors  retired  by 
the  great  gate  of  the  fort.  In  a  moment  young  Bene 
dict  Leonard  came  running  back,  and  addressed  the 
forester — 

"Master  Arnold,  1  would  have  a  new  bow-string 
— this  is  worn;  and  my  bird-bolts  want  feathering: 
shall  I  leave  them  with  you,  good  Arnold?"  And 
without  waiting  an  answer,  he  thrust  the  bow  and 
arrows  into  the  smiling  wood-ranger's  hand,  and 
bounded  away  again  through  the  gate. 

Dauntrees  flung  his  sword-belt  across  his  shoulder, 
put  on  his  cloak,  delayed  a  moment  to  secure  the 
remaining  flasks  of  wine,  and  then  beckoned  to  the 
ranger  to  follow  him. 

"Stop,"  cried  Weasel,  with  an  officious  zeal  to 
make  himself  useful;  "your  belt  is  awry:  it  is  not 
comely  to  be  seen  by  his  lordship  in  this  slovenly 
array." 


48  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

The  belt  was  set  right,  and  the  two  directed 
their  steps  towards  the  postern,  and  thence  to  the 
mansion.  The  publican  tarried  only  until  his  com 
panions  were  out  of  sight,  when,  curious  to  know  the 
object  of  the  errand,  and  careful  to  avoid  the  appear 
ance  of  intrusion,  he  followed  upon  the  same  path,  at 
a  respectful  distance, — stepping  wisely,  as  a  drunken 
man  is  wont,  and  full  of  the  opinion  that  his  sobriety 
was  above  all  suspicion. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  49 


CHAPTER  IV. 


Oft  as  the  peasant  wight  impelled 
To  these  untrodden  paths  had  been, 
As  oft  he,  horror  struck,  beheld 
Thing's  of  unearthly  shape  and  mien . 

GLEXGOXAH'S  WASSAII. 


THE  day  was  drawing  near  to  a  close,  and  the 
Proprietary  thoughtfully  paced  the  hall.  The  wain 
scoted  walls  around  him  were  hung  with  costly 
paintings,  mingled,  not  untastefully,  with  Indian  war 
clubs,  shields,  bows  and  arrows,  and  other  trophies 
won  from  the  savage.  There  were  also  the  ponder 
ous  antlers  of  the  elk  and  the  horns  of  the  buck  sus 
taining  draperies  of  the  skins  of  beasts  of  prey. 
Musquets,  cutlasses  and  partisans  were  bestowed  on 
brackets  ready  for  use  in  case  of  sudden  invasion 
from  that  race  of  wild  men  whose  stealthy  incursions 
in  times  past  had  taught  this  policy  of  preparation. 
The  level  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  striking  through 
the  broad  open  door,  flung  a  mellow  radiance  over 

VOL.  I.— 5 


50  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

the  hall,  giving  a  rich  picture-like  tone  to  its  sylvan 
furniture. 

Lord  Baltimore,  at  the  period  when  I  have  intro 
duced  him,  might  have  been  verging  upon  fifty.  He 
was  of  a  delicate  and  slender  stature,  with  a  grave 
and  dignified  countenance.  His  manners  were 
sedate  and  graceful,  and  distinguished  by  that  gen 
tleness  which  is  characteristic  of  an  educated  mind 
when  chastened  by  affliction.  He  had  been  schooled 
to  this  gentleness  both  by  domestic  and  public  griefs. 
The  loss  of  a  favourite  son,  about  two  years  before, 
had  thrown  a  shadow  upon  his  spirit,  and  a  succes 
sion  of  unruly  political  irritations  in  the  province 
served  to  prevent  the  return  of  that  buoyancy  of 
heart  which  is  indifferently  slow  to  come  back  at 
middle  age,  even  when  solicited  by  health,  fortune, 
friends,  and  all  the  other  incitements  which,  in 
younger  men,  are  wont  to  lift  up  a  wounded  spirit 
out  of  the  depths  of  a  casual  sorrow. 

Charles  Calvert  had  come  to  the  province  in  1662, 
and  from  that  date,  until  the  death  of  his  father, 
thirteen  years  afterwards,  administered  the  govern 
ment  in  the  capacity  of  lieutenant-General.  Upon 
his  accession  to  the  proprietary  rights,  he  found  him 
self  compelled  by  the  intrigues  of  a  faction  to  visit 
London,  where  he  was  detained  nearly  four  years, — 
having  left  Lady  Baltimore,  with  a  young  family  of 
children,  behind  him,  under  the  care  of  his  uncle 
Philip  Calvert,  the  chancellor  of  the  province.  He 
had  now,  within  little  more  than  a  twelvemonth,  re 
turned  to  his  domestic  roof,  to  mingle  his  sorrows 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  51 

with  those  of  his  wife  for  the  death  of  his  eldest  son, 
Cecilius,  who  had  sunk  into  the  tomb  during  his 
absence. 

The  public  cares  of  his  government  left  him  scant 
leisure  to  dwell  upon  his  personal  afflictions.  The 
province  was  surrounded  by  powerful  tribes  of  In 
dians  who  watched  the  white  settlers  with  an  eager 
hostility,  and  seized  every  occasion  to  molest  them 
by  secret  inroad,  and  often  by  open  assault.  A  per 
petual  war  of  petty  reprisals,  prevailed  upon  the 
frontier,  and  even  sometimes  invaded  the  heart  of 
the  province. 

A  still  more  vexatious  annoyance  existed  in  the 
party  divisions  of  the  inhabitants — divisions  unluck 
ily  resting  on  religious  distinctions — the  most  fierce 
of  all  dissensions.  Ever  since  the  Restoration,  the 
jealousy  of  the  Protestant  subjects  of  the  crown 
against  the  adherents  of  the  church  of  Rome  had 
been  growing  into  a  sentiment  that  finally  broke  forth 
into  the  most  flagrant  persecution.  In  the  province, 
the  Protestants  during  the  last  twenty  years  had 
greatly  increased  in  number,  and  at  the  date  of  this 
narrative  constituted  already  the  larger  mass  of  the 
population.  They  murmured  against  the  dominion 
of  the  Proprietary  as  one  adverse  to  the  welfare  of 
the  English  church;  and  in-trigues  were  set  on  foot 
to  obtain  the  establishment  of  that  church  in  the 
province  through  the  interest  of  the  ministry  in  Eng 
land.  Letters  were  written  by  some  of  the  more 
ambitious  clergy  of  Maryland  to  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  to  invoke  his  aid  in  the  enterprise.  The 


52  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

government  of  Lord  Baltimore  was  traduced  in  these 
representations,  and  every  disorder  attributed  to  the 
ascendancy  of  the  Papists.  It  was  even  affirmed 
that  the  Proprietary  and  his  uncle  the  Chancellor, 
had  instigated  the  Indians  to  ravage  the  plantations 
of  the  Protestant  settlers,  and  to  murder  their  fami 
lies.  Chiefly,  to  counteract  these  intrigues,  Lord 
Baltimore  had  visited  the'court  at  London.  Cecilius 
Calvert,  the  founder  of  the  province,  with  a  liberality 
as  wise  as  it  was  unprecedented,  had  erected  his 
government  upon  a  basis  of  perfect  religious  freedom. 
He  did  this  at  a  time  when  he  might  have  incorpo 
rated  his  own  faith  with  the  political  character  of 
the  colony,  and  maintained  it,  by  a  course  of  legis 
lation,  which  would,  perhaps,  even  up  to  the  present 
day,  have  rendered  Maryland  the  chosen  abode  of 
those  who  now  acknowledge  the  founder's  creed. 
His  views,  however,  were  more  expansive.  It  was 
his  design  to  furnish  in  Maryland  a  refuge  not  only 
to  the  weary  and  persecuted  votaries  of  his  own  sect, 
but  an  asylum  to  all  who  might  wish  for  shelter  in  a 
land  where  opinion  should  be  free  and  conscience 
undisturbed.  Whilst  this  plant  of  toleration  was 
yet  young,  it  grew  with  a  healthful  luxuriance  ;  but 
the  popular  leaders,  who  are  not  always  as  truly  and 
consistently  attached  to  enlightened  freedom  as  we 
might  be  led  to  believe  from  their  boasting,  and  who 
incessantly  aim  to  obtain  power  and  make  it  felt,  had 
no  sooner  acquired  strength  to  battle  with  the  Pro 
prietary  than  they  rooted  up  the  beautiful  exotic  and 
gave  it  to  the  winds. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  63 

Amongst  the  agitators  in  this  cause  was  a  man  of 
some  note  in  the  former  history  of  the  province — 
the  famous  Josias  Fendall,  the  governor  in  the  time 
of  the  Protectorate — now  in  a  green  old  age,  whose 
turbulent  temper,  and  wily  propensity  to  mischief 
had  lost  none  of  their  edge  with  the  approach  of 
grey  hairs.  This  individual  had  stimulated  some  of 
the  hot  spirits  of  the  province  into  open  rebellion 
against  the  life  of  the  Proprietary  and  his  uncle. 
His  chief  associate  was  John  Coode,  a  coarse  but 
shrewd  leader  of  a  faction,  who,  with  the  worst  in 
clinations  against  the  Proprietary  had  the  wit  to 
avoid  the  penalties  of  the  law,  and  to  maintain  him 
self  in  a  popular  position  as  a  member  of  the  house 
of  Burgesses.  Fendall,  a  few  months  before  this 
era,  had  been  arrested  with  several  followers,  upon 
strong  proofs  of  conspiracy,  and  was  now  a  close 
prisoner  in  the  gaol. 

Such  is  a  brief  but  necessary  view  of  the  state  of 
affairs  on  the  date,  at  which  I  have  presented  the 
Lord  Proprietary  to  my  reader.  The  matter  now  in 
hand  with  the  captain  of  the  fort  'had  reference  to 
troubles  of  inferior  note  to  those  which  I  have  just 
recounted. 

When  Lord  Baltimore  descried  Captain  Dauntrees 
and  the  ranger  approaching  the  mansion  from  the 
direction  of  the  fort,  he  advanced  beyond  the  thres 
hold  to  meet  them.  In  a  moment  they  stood  unbon- 
neted  before  him. 

"  God  save  you,  good  friends !"  was  his  salutation 
— "  Captain  Dauntrees  and  worthy  Arnold,  welcome  ! 

5* 


54  ROB  OP  THE  BOWL. 

— Cover," — he  added  in  a  tone  of  familiar  kindness, 
— "put  on  your  hats;  these  evening  airs  sometimes 
distill  an  ague  upon  a  bare  head." 

A  rugged  smile  played  upon  the  features  of  the  old 
forester  as  he  resumed  his  shaggy  cap,  and  said, 
"  Lord  Charles  is  good ;  but  he  does  not  remember 
that  the  head  of  an  old  ranger  gets  his  blossoms  like 
the  dog-wood, — in  the  wind  and  the  rain: — the  dew 
sprinkles  upon  it  the  same  as  upon  a  stone." 

"  Old  friend,"  replied  the  Proprietary, — "  that 
grizzly  head  has  taken  many  a  sprinkling  in  the  ser 
vice  of  my  father  and  myself:  it  is  worthy  of  a  better 
bonnet,  and  thou  shalt  have  one,  Arnold — the  best 
thou  canst  find  in  the  town.  Choose  for  yourself, 
and  Master  Verheyden  shall  look  to  the  cost  of  it." 

The  Fleming  modestly  bowed,  as  he  replied  with 
that  peculiar  foreign  gesture  and  accent,  neither  of 
which  maybe  described, — "Lord  Charles  is  good. — 
He  is  the  son  of  his  father,  Lord  Cecil, — Heaven 
bless  his  memory  !" 

"  Master  Verheyden,  bade  me  attend  your  lord 
ship,"  said  Dauntrees ;  "  and  to  bring  Arnold  de  la 
Grange  with  me." 

"  I  have  matter  for  your  vigilance,  Captain,"  re 
plied  the  Proprietary.  "  Walk  with  me  in  the  garden 
— we  will  talk  over  our  business  in  the  open  air." 

When  they  had  strolled  some  distance,  Lord  Bal 
timore  proceeded — "  There  are  strange  tales  afloat 
touching  certain  mysterious  doings  in  a  house  at  St. 
Jerome's:  the  old  wives  will  have  it  that  it  is  inha 
bited  by  goblins  and  mischievous  spirits — and,  in 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  55 

truth,  wiser  people  than  old  women  are  foolish 
enough  to  hold  it  in  dread.  Father  Pierre  tells  me 
he  can  scarcely  check  this  terror." 

"  Your  Lordship  means  the  fisherman's  house  on 
the  beach  at  St.  Jerome's,"  said  the  Captain.  "  The 
country  is  full  of  stories  concerning  it,  and  it  has 
long  had  an  ill  fame.  I  know  the  house :  the  gossips 
call  it  The  Wizard's  Chapel.  It  stands  hard  by  the 
hut  of  The  Cripple.  By  my  faith, — he  who  wanders 
there  at  nightfall  had  need  of  a  clear  shrift." 

"  You  give  credence  to  these  idle  tales  ?" 

"  No  idle  tales,  an  please  your  Lordship.  Some  of 
these  marvels  have  I  witnessed  with  my  own  eyes. 
There  is  a  curse  of  blood  upon  that  roof." 

"  I  pray  you  speak  on,"  said  the  Proprietary, 
earnestly;  "there  is  more  in  this  than  I  dreamed 
of." 

"Paul  Kelpy  the  fisherman,"  continued  Dauntrees, 
— "  it  was  before  my  coming  into  the  province — but 
the  story  goes " 

"  It  was  in  the  Lord  Cecil's  time — I  knowed  the 
fisherman,"  interrupted  Arnold. 

"  He  was  a  man,"  said  the  Captain,  "  who,  as  your 
Lordship  may  have  heard,  had  a  name  which  caused 
him  to  be  shunned  in  his  time, — and  they  are  alive 
now  who  can  tell  enough  of  his  wickedness  to  make 
one's  hair  rise  on  end.  He  dwelt  in  this  house  at  St. 
Jerome's  in  Clayborne's  day,  and  took  part  with  that 
freebooter ; — went  with  him,  as  I  have  heard,  to  the 
Island,  and  was  outlawed." 

"  Ay,    and    met   the    death   he   deserved — I  re- 


56  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

member  the  story,"  said  the  Proprietary.  "  He  was 
foiled  in  his  attempt  to  get  out  of  the  province,  and 
barred  himself  up  in  his  own  house." 

"  And  there  he  fought  like  a  tiger, — or  more  like  a 
devil  as  he  was,"  added  the  ranger.  "  They  were 
more  than  two  days,  before  they  could  get  into  his 
house." 

"  When  his  door  was  forced  at  last,"  continued 
the  Captain  ;  "  they  found  him,  his  wife  and  child 
lying  in  their  own  blood  upon  the  hearth  stone.  They 
were  all  murdered,  people  say,  by  his  own  hand." 

"  And  that  was  true  !"  added  Arnold  ;  "  T  remem 
ber  how  he  was  buried  at  the  cross  road,  below  the 
Mattapany  Fort,  with  a  stake  drove  through  his 
body." 

"  Ever  since  that  time,"  continued  Dauntrees, 
"they  say  the  house  has  been  without  lodgers — of 
flesh  and  blood,  I  mean,  my  Lord, — for  it  has  become 
a  devil's  den,  and  a  busy  one." 

"  What  hast  thou  seen,  Captain?  You  speak  as  a 
.  witness." 

"  It  is  not  yet  six  months  gone  by,  my  Lord,  when 
I  was  returning  with  Clayton,  the  master  of  the  col 
lector's  pinnace,  from  the  Isle  of  Kent;  we  stood 
in,  after  night,  towards  the  headland  of  St.  Jerome's 
bay ; — it  was  very  dark — and  the  four  windows  of 
the  Wizard's  Chapel,  that  looked  across  the  beach, 
were  lighted  up  with  such  a  light  as  I  have  never 
seen  from  candle  or  fagot.  And  there  were  antic 
figures  passing  the  blaze  that  seemed  deep  in  some 
hellish  carouse.  We  kept  our  course,  until  we  got 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  57 

almost  close  aboard, — when  suddenly  all  grew  dark. 
There  came,  at  that  moment,  a  gust  of  wind  such 
as  the  master  said  he  never  knew  to  sweep  in  day 
light  across  the  Chesapeake.  It  struck  us  in  our 
teeth,  and  we  were  glad  to  get  out  again  upon  the 
broad  water.  It  would  seem  to  infer  that  the  Evil 
One  had  service  rendered  there,  which  it  would  be 
sinful  to  look  upon.  In  my  poor  judgment  it  is  matter 
for  the  church,  rather  than  for  the  hand  of  the  law." 

"  You  are  not  a  man,  Captain  Dauntrees,  to  be 
lightly  moved  by  fantasies,"  said  the  Proprietary, 
gravely;  "yon  have  good  repute  for  sense  and  cou 
rage.  1  would  have  you  weigh  well  what  you 
report." 

"  Surely,  my  Lord,  Clayton  is  as  stout  a  man  in 
heart  as  any  in  the  province:  and  yet  he  could 
scarcely  hold  his  helm  for  fear." 

"  Why  was  I  not  told  of  this  ?" 

"Your  Lordship's  favour,"  replied  Dauntrees,  shak 
ing  his  head ;  "  neither  the  master,  the  seamen  nor 
myself  would  hazard  ill  will  by  moving  in  the  matter. 
There  is  malice  in  these  spirits,  my  Lord,  which  will 
not  brook  meddling  in  their  doings :  we  waited  until 

o  o 

we  might  be  questioned  by  those  who  had  right  to 
our  answer.  The  blessed  martyrs  shield  me  !  I  am 
pledged  to  fight  your  Lordship's  bodily  foes : — the 
good  priests  of  our  holy  patron  St.  Ignatius  were 
better  soldiers  for  this  warfare." 

The  Proprietary  remained  for  some  moments  si 
lent:  at  last,  turning  to  the  ranger,  he  inquired — 
"What  dost  thou  know  of  this  house,  Arnold?" 


58  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

. 

"  Well,  Lord  Charles,"  replied  the  veteran,  "  I 
\vas  not  born  to  be  much  afeard  of  goblins  or 
witches. — In  my  rangings  I  have  more  than  once 
come  in  the  way  of  these  wicked  spirits  ;  and  then  1 
have  found  that  a  clean  breast  and  a  stout  heart,  with 
the  help  of  an  Ave  Mary  and  a  Paternoster  was  more 
than  a  match  for  all  their  bowlings.  But  the  fisher 
man's  house — oh,  my  good  Lord  Charles,"  he  added 
with  a  portentous  shrug,  "  has  dwellers  in  it  that  it 
is  best  not  to  trouble.  When  Sergeant  Travers  and 
myself  were  ranging  across  by  St.  Jerome's,  at  that 
time  when  Tiquassino's  men  were  thought  to  be  a 
thieving, — last  Hallowmass,  if  I  remember, — we  shot 
a  doe  towards  night,  and  set  down  in  the  woods, 
waiting  to  dress  our  meat  for  a  supper,  which  kept 
us  late,  before  we  mounted  our  horses  again.  But 
we  had  some  aqua  vitse,  and  did  n't  much  care  for 
hours.  So  it  was  midnight,  with  no  light  but  the  stars 
to  show  us  our  way.  It  happened  that  we  rode  not 
far  from  the  Wizard's  Chapel,  which  put  us  to  telling 
stories  to  each  other  about  Paul  Kelpy  and  the 
ghosts  that  people  said  haunted  his  house." 

"  The  aqua  vitas  made  you  talkative  as  well  as 
valiant,  Arnold,"  interrupted  the  Proprietary. 

"  I  will  not  say  that,"  replied  the  ranger;  "but 
something  put  it  into  our  heads  to  go  down  the  bank 
and  ride  round  the  chapel.  At  first  all  was  as  quiet 
as  if  it  had  been  our  church  here  of  St.  Mary's — 
except  that  our  horses  snorted  and  reared  with  fright 
at  something  we  could  not  see.  The  wind  was  blow 
ing,  and  the  waves  were  beating  on  the  shore, — and 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  59 

suddenly  we  began  to  grow  cold ;  and  then,  all  at 
once,  there  came  a  rumbling  noise  inside  of  the 
house  like  the  rolling  of  a  hogshead  full  of  pebbles, 
and  afterwards  little  flashes  of  light  through  the  win 
dows,  and  the  sergeant  said  he  heard  clanking  chains 
and  groans : — it  is  n't  worth  while  to  hide  it  from 
your  lordship,  but  the  serjeant  ran  away  like  a 
coward,  and  I  followed  him  like  another,  Lord 
Charles. — Since  that  night  I  have  not  been  near  the 
Black  house. — We  have  an  old  saying  in  my  coun 
try — '  een  gebrande  kat  vreest  het  koude  water' — 
the  scalded  cat  keeps  clear  of  cold  water — ha,  I 
mind  the  proverb." 

"  It  is  not  long  ago,"  said  Dauntrees,  "  perhaps 
not  above  two  years, — when,  they  say,  the  old  sun- 
dried  timber  of  the  building  turned  suddenly  black. 
It  was  the  work  of  a  single  night — your  Lordship 
shall  find  it  so  now." 

"  I  can  witness  the  truth  of  it,"  said  Arnold — "  the 
house  was  never  black  until  that  night,  and  now  it 
looks  as  if  it  was  scorched  with  lightning  from  roof 
to  ground  sill.  And  yet,  lightning  could  never  leave 
it  so  black  without  burning  it  to  the  ground." 

"  There  is  some  trickery  in  this,"  said  the  Pro 
prietary.  "  It  may  scarce  be  accounted  for  on  any 
pretence  of  witchcraft,  or  sorcery,  although  I  know 
there  are  malignant  influences  at  work  in  the  pro 
vince  which  find  motive  enough  to  do  all  the  harm 
they  can.  Has  Fendall,  or  any  of  his  confederates 
had  commerce  with  this  house,  Captain  Dauntrees? 
Can  you  suspect  such  intercourse  ?" 


DO  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  Assuredly  not,  my  Lord,"  replied  the  Captain, 
"  for  Marshall,  who  is  the  most  insolent  of  that  fac 
tion,  hath,  to  my  personal  knowledge,  the  greatest 
dread  of  the  chapel  of  all  other  men  I  have  seen. 
Besides,  these  terrors  have  flourished  in  the  winter- 
night  tales  of  the  neighbourhood,  ever  since  the 
death  of  Kelpy,  and  long  before  the  Fendalls  grew 
so  pestilent  in  the  province." 

"  It  is  the  blood  of  the  fisherman,  my  good  Lord, 
and  of  his  wife  and  children  that  stains  the  floor," 
said  Arnold  ;  "  it  is  that  blood  which  brings  the  evil 
spirits  together  about  the  old  hearth.  Twice  every 
day  the  blood-spots  upon  the  floor  freshen  and  grow 
strong,  as  the  tide  comes  to  flood ; — at  the  ebb  they 
may  be  hardly  seen." 

"  You  have  witnessed  this  yourself,  Arnold  I" 

"At  the  ebb,  Lord  Charles.  I  did  not  stay  for  the 
change  of  tide.  When  I  saw  the  spots  it  was  as 
much  as  we  could  do  to  make  them  out. — But  at  the 
flood  every  body  says  they  are  plain." 

"  It  is  a  weighty  matter,  a  very  weighty  matter, 
an  it  like  your  Lordship's  honour,"  muttered  forth  the 
slim  voice  of  Garret  Weasel,  who  had  insinuated 
himself,  by  slow  approach,  into  the  rear  of  the  com 
pany,  near  enough  to  hear  a  part  of  this  conversa 
tion,  and  who  now  fancied  that  his  interest  in  the 
subject  would  ensure  him  an  unrebuked  access  to  the 
Proprietary — "and  your  Lordship  hath  a  worthy  care 
for  the  fears  of  the  poor  people  touching  the  abomi 
nations  of  the  Wizard's  Chapel." 

"What  brought  thee  here,  Garret  Weasel?"  in- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  61 

quired  the  Proprietary,  as  he  turned  suddenly  upon 
the  publican  and  looked  him  steadfastly  in  the  face — 
"  What  wonder  hast  thou  to  tell  to  excuse  thy  lurk 
ing  at  our  heels  1" 

"  Much  and  manifold,  our  most  noble  Lord,  touch 
ing  the  rumours,"  replied  the  confused  innkeeper, 
with  a  thick  utterance.  "  And  it  is  the  most  nota 
ble  thing  about  it  that  Robert  Swale — Rob  o'  the 
Trencher,  as  he  is  commonly  called — your  Lordship 
apprehends  I  mean  the  Cripple — that  Rob  lives  so 
near  the  Wizard's  Chapel.  There  's  matter  of  con 
sideration  in  that — if  your  Lordship  will  weigh  it." 

"  Fie,  Master  Garret  Weasel !  Fie  on  thee  !  Thou 
art  in  thy  cups.  I  grieve  to  see  thee  making  a  beast 
of  thyself.  You  had  a  name  for  sobriety.  Look 
that  you  lose  it  not  again.  Captain  Dauntrees  if  the 
publican  has  been  your  guest  this  evening,  you-  are 
scarce  free  of  blame  for  this." 

"He  has  a  shallow  head,  my  Lord,  and  it  is  more 
easily  sounded  than  I  guessed.  Arnold,"  said  Daun 
trees  apart — "  persuade  the  innkeeper  home." 

The  ranger  took  Garret's  arm,  and  expostulating 
with  him  as  he  led  him  away,  dismissed  him  at  the 
gate  with  an  admonition  to  bear  himself  discreetly 
in  the  presence  of  his  wife, — a  hint  which  seemed  to 
have  a  salutary  effect,  as  the  landlord  was  seen 
shaping  his  course  with  an  improved  carriage  to 
wards  the  town. 

"  Have  you  reason  to  believe,  Captain  Dauntrees," 
said  the  Proprietary,  after  Weasel  had  departed ; 

VOL.  I.— 6 


62  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  that  the  Cripple  gives  credit  to  these  tales.  He 
lives  near  this  troubled  house?" 

"  Not  above  a  gunshot  off,  my  Lord.  He  cannot 
but  be  witness  to  these  marvels.  But  he  is  a  man  of 
harsh  words,  and  lives  to  himself.  There  is  matter 
in  his  own  life,  I  should  guess,  which  leaves  but  little 
will  to  censure  these  doings.  To  a  certainty  he  has 
no  fear  of  what  may  dwell  in  the  Black  building. — 
I  have  seldom  spoken  with  him." 

"  Your  report  and  Arnold's,"  said  the  Proprietary, 
"  confirm  the  common  rumour.  I  have  heard  to-day, 
that  two  nights  past  some  such  phantoms  as  you 
speak  of  have  been  seen,  and  deemed  it  at  first  a 
mere  gossip's  wonder; — but  what  you  tell  gives  a 
graver  complexion  of  truth  to  these  whisperings.  Be 
there  demons  or  jugglers  amongst  us — and  I  have 
reason  to  suspect  both — this  matter  must  be  sifted. 
I  would  have  the  inquiry  made  by  men  who  are  not 
moved  by  the  vulgar  love  of  marvel.  This  duty 
shall  be  yours,  friends.  Make  suitable  preparation, 
Captain,  to  discharge  it  at  your  earliest  leisure.  I 
would  have  you  and  Arnold,  with  such  discreet 
friends  as  you  may  select,  visit  this  spot  at  night  and 
observe  the  doings  there.  Look  that  you  keep  your 
own  counsel : — we  have  enemies  of  flesh  and  blood 
that  may  be  more  dreaded  than  these  phantoms.  So, 
God  speed  you  friends  !" 

"  The  man  who  purges  the  Black  House  of  the 
fiend,  so  please  you,  my  Lord,"  said  Dauntrees, 
"  should  possess  more  odour  of  sanctity  than  I  doubt 
will  be  found  under  our  soldier's  jerkins.  I  shall 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  63 

nevertheless  execute  your  Lordship's  orders  to  the 
letter." 

"  Hark  you,  Captain,"  said  the  Proprietary,  as  his 
visiters  were  about  to  take  their  leave — "  if  you  have 
a  scruple  in  this  matter  and  are  so  inclined,  I  would 
have  you  confer  with  Father  Pierre.  Whether  this 
adventure  require  prayer,  or  weapon  of  steel,  you 
shall  judge  for  yourself." 

"  I  shall  take  it,  my  Lord,  as  a  point  of  soldiership," 
said  Dauntrees,  "  to  be  dealt  with,  in  soldierly  fash 
ion — that  is,  with  round  blows  if  occasion  serves.  I 
ask  no  aid  from  our  good  priest.  He  hath  a  trick — 
if  I  may  be  so  bold  as  to  speak  it  before  your  Lord 
ship — which  doth  not  so  well  sort  with  my  age  and 
bodily  health, — a  trick,  my  Lord,  of  putting  one 
to  a  fasting  penance  by  way  of  purification.  Our 
purpose  of  visiting  the  Black  House  would  be  unsea 
sonably  delayed  by  such  a  purgation." 

"  As  thou  wilt — as  thou  wilt !"  said  the  Proprie 
tary,  laughing;  "Father  Pierre  would  have  but  an 
idle  sinecure,  if  he  had  no  other  calling  but  to  bring 
thee  to  thy  penitentiary. — Good  even,  friends, — may 
the  kind  saints  be  with  you !" 

The  Captain  and  his  comrade  now  turned  their 
steps  toward  the  fort,  and  the  Proprietary  retired 
into  the  mansion.  Here  he  found  the  secretary  and 
Benedict  Leonard  waiting  his  arrival.  They  had 
just  returned  from  the  town,  whither  they  had  gone 
after  doing  their  errand  to  the  fort.  Albert  Verhey- 
den  bore  a  packet  secured  with  silken  strings  and 
sealed,  which  he  delivered  to  the  Proprietary. 


64  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  Dick  Pagan,  the  courier,"  he  said,  "  has  just 
come  in  from  James  Town  in  Virginia,  whence  he 
set  forth  but  four  days  ago — he  has  had  a  hard  ride 
of  it — and  brought  this  pacquet  to  the  sheriff  for  my 
Lord.  The  courier  reports  that  a  ship  had  just  arrived 
from  England,  and  that  Sir  Henry  Chichely  the  go 
vernor  gave  him  this  for  your  Lordship  to  be  deliver 
ed  without  delay." 

The  Proprietary  took  the  pacquet :  "  Albert,"  he 
said,  as  he  was  about  to  withdraw,  "  I  have  pro 
mised  the  old  ranger,  Arnold  de  la  Grange,  a  new 
cap.  Look  to  it : — get  him  the  best  that  you  may  find 
in  the  town — or,  perhaps,  it  would  better  content  him 
to  have  one  made  express  by  Cony  the  leather 
dresser.  Let  it  be  as  it  may  best  please  the  veteran 
himself,  good  Albert."  With  this  considerate  re 
membrance  of  the  ranger,  Lord  Baltimore  withdrew 
into  his  study. 

• 


ROB  •OF  THE  BOWL.  65 


CHAPTER  V. 


deep  on  his  front  engraven, 


Deliberation  sat,  and  public  care. 

MILTON. 

Lend  me  thy  lantern  quoth  a  ?     Marry  I  '11  see  thee  hanged 
first. 

SHAKSPEARE. 


A  SMALL  fire  blazed  on  the  hearth  of  the  study  and 
mingled  its  light  with  that  of  a  silver  cresset,  which 
hung  from  the  ceiling  above  a  table  furnished  with 
writing  materials  and  strewed  over  with  papers. 
Here  the  Proprietary  sat.  intent  upon  the  perusal  of 
the  pacquet.  Its  contents  disquieted  him ;  and  with 
increasing  solicitude  he  again  and  again  read  over" 
the  letters. 

At  length  the  secretary  was  summoned  into  his 
presence.  "  Albert,''  he  said,  "  the  council  must  be 
called  together  to-morrow  at  noon.  The  messengers 
should  be  despatched  to-night ;  they  have  a  dark  road 
and  far  to  ride.  Let  them  be  ready  with  the  least 
delay." 

The  secretary  bowed  and  went  forth  to  execute 
his  order. 

6* 


66  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

The  letters  brought  the  Proprietary  a  fresh  impor 
tation  of  troubles.  That  which  most  disturbed  him 
was  from  the  Board  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  and 
spoke  authoritatively  of  the  growing  displeasure  of 
the  ministry  at  the  exclusiveness,  as  it  was  termed, 
of  the  Proprietary's  favours,  in  the  administration  of 
his  government,  to  the  Catholic  inhabitants  of  the 
province;  it  hinted  at  the  popular  and  probably  well- 
founded  discontent — to  use  its  own  phrase — of  his 
Majesty's  Protestant  subjects  against  the  too  liberal 
indulgence  shown  to  the  Papists;  repeated  stale 
charges  and  exploded  calumnies  against  the  Proprie 
tary,  with  an  earnestness  that  showed  how  sedulous 
ly  his  enemies  had  taken  advantage  of  the  disfavour 
into  which  the  Church  of  Rome  and  its  advocates 
had  fallen  since  the  Restoration  ;  and  concluded  with 
a  peremptory  intimation  of  the  royal  pleasure  that  all 
the  offices  of  the  province  should  be  immediately 
transferred  into  the  hands  of  the  Church  of  England 
party. 

This  was  a  blow  at  Lord  Baltimore  which  scarcely 
took  him  by  surprise.  His  late  visit  to  England  had 
convinced  him  that  not  all  the  personal  partiality  of 
the  monarch  for  his  family — and  this  was  rendered 
conspicuous  in  more  than  one  act  of  favour  at  a  time 
when  the  Catholic  lords  were  brought  under  the  ban 
of  popular  odium — would  be  able  finally  to  shelter 
the  province  from  that  religious  proscription  which 
already  was  rife  in  the  mother  land.  He  was  not, 
therefore,  altogether  unprepared  to  expect  this  as 
sault.  The  mandate  was  especially  harsh  in  refer- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  67 

ence  to  the  Proprietary,  first  because  it  was  untrue 
that  he  had  ever  recognised  the  difference  of  reli 
gious  opinion  in  his  appointments,  but  on  the  contrary 
had  conferred  office  indiscriminately  in  strict  and 
faithful  accordance  with  the  fundamental  principle 
of  toleration  upon  which  his  government  was  found 
ed  ;  and  secondly,  because  it  would  bear  with  pointed 
injustice  upon  some  of  his  nearest  and  most  devoted 
friends — his  uncle  the  chancellor,  the  whole  of  his 
council,  and,  above  all  others  in  whose  welfare  he 
took  an  interest,  upon  the  collector  of  the  port  of  St. 
Mary's,  Anthony  Warden,  an  old  inhabitant  of  the 
province,  endeared  to  the  Proprietary — and  indeed 
to  all  his  fellow-burgesses — by  long  friendship  and 
tried  fidelity.  What  rendered  it  the  more  grating  to 
the  feelings  of  the  Proprietary  in  this  instance,  was 
that  the  collectorship  had  already  been  singled  out  as 
a  prize  to  be  played  for  by  that  faction  which  had 
created  the  late  disturbances  in  the  province.  It  was 
known  that  Coode  had  set  his  eyes  upon  this  lure,  and 
gloated  upon  it  with  the  gaze  of  a  serpent.  The 
emoluments  of  the  post  were  something  considerable, 
and  its  importance  was  increased  by  the  influence  it 
was  supposed  to  confer  on  the  incumbent,  as  a  person 
of  weight  and  consequence  in  the  town. 

The  first  expression  of  irritation  which  the  perusal 
of  the  pacquet  brought  to  the  lips  of  the  Proprietary 
had  a  reference  to  the  collector.  "  They  would  have 
me,"  he  said,  as  he  rose  and  strode  through  the 
apartment,  "  discard  from  my  service,  the  very  ap 
proved  friends  with  whom  in  my  severest  toils,  in  this 


68  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

wilderness,  I  have  for  so  many  years  buffeted  side 
by  side,  and  to  whom  I  am  most  indebted  for  sup 
port  and  encouragement  amidst  the  thousand  disas 
ters  of  my  enterprise.  They  would  have  me  turn 
adrift,  without  a  moment's  warning,  and  even  with 
circumstances  of  disgrace,  that  tried  pattern  of  hones 
ty,  old  Anthony  Warden.  Virtue,  in  her  best  estate, 
hath  but  a  step-daughter's  portion  in  the  division  of 
this  world's  goods,  and  often  goes  begging,  when 
varnished  knavery  carries  a  high  head  and  proud 
heart,  and  lords  it  like  a  very  king.  By  the  blessed 
light !  old  Anthony  shall  not  budge  on  my  motion. 
Am  I  to  be  schooled  in  my  duty  by  rapacious  mal 
contents,  and  to  be  driven  to  put  away  my  trustiest 
friends,  to  make  room  for  such  thirsty  leeches  and 
coarse  rufflers  as  John  Coode  ?  The  argument  is, 
that  here,  in  what  my  father  would  have  made  a 
peaceful,  contented  land,  planted  by  him  and  the 
brothers  of  his  faith, — with  the  kindest,  best  and  most 
endeared  supporters  of  that  faith  by  my  side — wor 
thy  men,  earnest  and  zealous  to  do  their  duty — they 
and  their  children  true  to  every  Christian  precept — 
men  who  have  won  a  home  by  valour  and  patient, 
wise  endurance — they  must  all  be  disfranchised,  as 
not  trustworthy  even  for  the  meanest  office,  and  give 
their  places  to  brawlers,  vapouring  bullies  and  fac 
tious  stirrers-up  of  discord — and  that  too  in  the  name 
of  religion !  Oh,  this  viper  of  intolerance,  how  hath 
it  crept  in  and  defiled  the  garden  !  One  would  have 
thought  this  world  were  wide  enough  to  give  the 
baser  passions  elbow  room,  without  rendering  our 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  69 

little  secluded  nook  a  theatre  for  the  struggle.  Come 
what  may,  Anthony  Warden  shall  not  lack  the  col- 
lectorship  whilst  a  shred  of  my  prerogative  remains 
untorn !" 

In  this  strain  of  feeling  the  Proprietary  continued 
to  chafe  his  spirit,  until  the  necessity  of  preparing  the 
letters  which  were  to  urge  the  attendance  of  his 
council,  drew  him  from  his  fretful  reverie  into  a 
calmer  tone  of  mind. 

In  the  servants'  hall  there  was  an  unusual  stir  oc 
casioned  by  the  preparations  which  were  in  train  for 
the  outriding  of  the  messengers  whom  the  secretary 
had  put  in  requisition  for  the  service  of  the  night. 
The  first  of  these  was  Derrick  Brown,  a  man  of 
stout  mould  though  somewhat  advanced  in  years. 
He  held  in  the  establishment  what  might  be  termed 
the  double  post  of  master  of  the  mews  and  keeper  of 
the  fox  hounds,  being  principal  falconer  and  hunts 
man  of  the  household.  The  second  was  a  short, 
plump  little  fellow,  bearing  the  name  of  John  Alward, 
who  was  one  of  the  grooms  of  the  stable.  These 
two,  now  ready  booted,  belted  and  spurred,  were 
seated  on  a  bench,  discussing  a  luncheon,  with  the 
supplement  of  a  large  jack  or  tankard  of  brown  bas 
tard.  Several  of  the  other  domestics  loitered  in  the 
hall,  throwing  in  occasionally  a  word  of  advice  to 
the  riders,  or  giving  them  unsolicited  aid  in  the  car 
nal  occupation  of  bodily  reinforcement  to  which  they 
were  devoting  themselves  with  the  lusty  vigour  of 
practised  trenchermen.  Leaning  against  the  jamb 
of  the  ample  fireplace,  immediately  below  a  lamp 


70  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

which  tipped  the  prominent  points  of  his  grave  visage 
with  a  sharp  light>  stood  an  old  Indian,  of  massive 
figure  and  swarthy  hue,  named  Pamesack,  or,  as  he 
was  called  in  the  English  translation  of  the  Indian 
word,  The  Knife.  This  personage  had  been,  for 
some  years  past,  at  intervals,  a  privileged  inmate  of 
the  Proprietary's  family,  and  was  now,  though  con 
signed  to  a  portion  of  the  duties  of  the  evening, 
apparently  an  unconcerned  spectator  of  the  scene 
around  him.  He  smoked  his  pipe  in  silence,  or  if  he 
spoke,  it  was  seldom  more  than  in  the  short  mono 
syllable,  characteristic  of  the  incommunicative  habits 
of  his  tribe. 

"  When  I  saw  Dick  Pagan,  the  James  Town  cou 
rier,  coming  into  town  this  evening  with  his  leather 
pouch  slung  across  his  shoulder,"  said  the  elder  of 
the  riders,  "  I  guessed  as  much  as  that  there  would 
be  matter  for  the  council.  News  from  that  quarter 
now-a-days  is  apt  to  bring  business  for  their  wor 
ships.  I  warrant  you  the  brother  of  Master  Fendall 
hath  been  contriving  an  outcome  in  Virginia.  I  heard 
John  Rye,  the  miller  of  St.  Clements,  say  last  Sunday 
afternoon,  that  Samuel  Fendall  had  forty  mounted 
men  ready  in  the  forest  to  do  his  bidding  with  broad 
sword  and  carbine.  And  he  would  have  done  it  too, 
if  my  Lord  had  not  laid  him  by  the  heels  at  unawares. 
He  hath  a  savage  spite  against  my  Lord  and  the 
chancellor  both." 

"  But  knew  ye  ever  the  like  before,"  said  John  Al- 
ward,  "  that  his  lordship  should  be  in  such  haste  to 
see  their  worships,  he  must  needs  have  us  tramp- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  71 

ing  over  the  country  at  midnight?  By  the  virtue  of 
my  belt,  there  must  be  a  hot  flavour  in  the  news !  It 
was  a  post  haste  letter." 

"Tush,  copperface!  What  have  you  to  do  with 
the  flavour  of  the  news?  The  virtue  of  thy  belt,  in 
deed  !  Precious  little  virtue  is  there  within  its  com 
pass,  ha,  ha !  You  have  little  to  complain  of,  John 
Alward,  for  a  midnight  tramp.  It  is  scant  twelve 
miles  from  this  to  Mattapany,  and  thine  errand  is 
done.  Thou  mayst  be  snoozing  on  a  good  truss  of 
hay  in  Master  Sewall's  stable  before  midnight,  if  you 
make  speed.  Think  of  my  ride  all  the  way  to  Notley 
Hall, — and  round  about  by  the  head  of  the  river  too 
— for  I  doubt  if  I  have  any  chance  to  get  a  cast  over 
the  ferry  to-night.  Simon  the  boat-keeper  is  not 
often  sober  at  this  hour :  and  if  he  was,  a  crustier 
churl — the  devil  warm  his  pillow  ! — does  n't  live 
'twixt  this  and  the  old  world.  He  gets  out  of  his 
sleep  for  no  man." 

"  But  it  is  a  dark  road  mine,"  replied  the  groom. 
"  A  plague  upon  it !  I^ave  no  stomach  for  this  bush 
and  brier  work,  when  a  man  can  see  the  limb  of  a 
tree  no  more  than  a  cobweb." 

"  A  dark  road !"  exclaimed  the  master  of  the  ken 
nels,  laughing.  "A  dark  road,  John!  It  is  a  long 
time,  I  trow,  since  there  has  been  a  dark  road  for 
thy  night  rides,  with  that  nose  shining  like  a  lighted 
link  a  half  score  paces  around  thee.  It  was  some 
what  deadened  last  September,  I  allow,  when  you 
had  the  marsh  ague,  and  the  doctor  fed  you  for  a 
week  on  gruel — but  it  hath  waxed  lately  as  bright  as 


72  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

ever.  I  wish  I  could  buckle  it  to  my  head-strap  until 
to-morrow  morning." 

A  burst  of  laughter,  at  this  sally,  which  rang 
through  the  hall,  testified  the  effect  of  the  falconer's 
wit  and  brought  the  groom  to  his  feet. 

"  'S  blood,  you  grinning  fools !"  he  ejaculated, 
"  have  n't  you  heard  Derrick's  joke  a  thousand  times 
before,  that  you  must  toss  up  your  scurvy  ha-haws 
at  it,  as  if  it  was  new !  He  stole  it — as  the  whole 
hundred  knows — from  the  fat  captain,  old  Dauntrees 
in  the  fort  there;  who  would  have  got  it  back  upon 
hue  and  cry,  if  it  had  been  his  own ; — but  the  truth 
is,  the  Captain  filched  it  from  a  play-book,  as  the  sur 
veyor  told  him  in  my  hearing  at  Garret  Weasel's, 
where  the  Captain  must  needs  have  it  for  a  laughing 
matter." 

"  It  is  a  joke  that  burns  fresh  every  night,"  replied 
Derrick ;  "  a  thing  to  make  light  of.  So,  up  with  the 
bottom  of  the  pot,  boy,  and  feed  it  with  mother's 
milk :  it  will  stand  thee  in  stead  to-night.  Well  done, 
John  Alward!  I  can  commend  thee  for  taking  a  jest 
as  well  as  another." 

"  Master  Derrick,"  said  the  other,  "  this  is  not  the 
way  to  do  his  Lordship's  bidding:  if  we  must  go,  we 
should  be  jogging  now.  I  would  I  had  thy  ride  to 
take,  instead  of  my  own, — short  as  you  think  it." 

"  Ha,  say  you  that !  By  the  rochet,  John,  you 
shall  have  it,  an  it  please  Master  Secretary !  But 
upon  one  condition." 

"Upon  what  condition?" 

"  That  you  tell  me  honestly  why  you  would  choose 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  73 

to  ride  twenty  miles  to  Notley  rather  than  twelve  to 
Mattapany." 

"  Good  Derrick,"  answered  the  groom,  "  it  is  but 
as  a  matter  of  horsemanship.  You  have  a  broader 
road,  and  mine  is  a  path  much  beset  with  brush 
wood.  I  like  not  the  peril  of  being  unhorsed  ?" 

"There  is  a  lie  in  thy  face,  John  Alward; — the 
Mattapany  road  is  the  broadest  and  best  of  the  two 
— is  it  not  so,  Pamesack  ?" 

"  It  is  the  first  that  was  opened  by  the  white  man," 
replied  the  Indian ;  "  and  more  people  pass  upon  it 
than  the  other." 

"  John,"  said  the  falconer,  "  you  are  a  coward.  I 
will  riot  put  you  to  the  inventing  another  lie,  but  will 
wager  I  can  tell  you  at  one  guess  why  you  would 
change  with  me." 

"  Out  with  it,  Master  Derrick !"  exclaimed  the  by 
standers. 

"  Oh,  out  with  it !"  repeated  John  Alward ;  "  I  heed 
not  thy  gibes." 

"  You  fear  the  cross  road,"  said  the  falconer;  "  you 
will  not  pass  the  fisherman's  grave." 

"  In  troth,  masters — I  must  needs  own,"  replied  the 
groom,  "that  I  have  qualms.  I  never  was  ashamed 
to  tell  the  truth,  and  confess  that  I  am  so  much  of  a 
sinner  as  to  feel  an  honest  fear  of  the  devil  and 
his  doings.  I  have  known  a  horse  to  start  and  a 
rider  to  be  flung  at  the  cross  road  before  now: — 
there  are  times  in  the  night  when  both  horse  and 
rider  may  see  what  it  turns  one's  blood  into  ice  to 
look  at.  Nay,  I  am  in  earnest,  masters : — I  jest  not." 

VOL  I.— 7 


74  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  Thou  hast  honestly  confessed,  like  a  brave  man, 
that  thou  art  a  coward,  John  Alward;  and  so  it  shall 
be  a  bargain  between  us.  I  will  take  your  message. 
I  fear  not  Paul  Kelpy — he  has  been  down  with  that 
stake  through  his  body,  ever  too  fast  to  walk  abroad." 

"  There's  my  hand  to  it,"  said  the  groom,  "  and 
thanks  to  boot.  I  am  no  coward,  Derrick, — but  have 
an  infirmity  which  will  not  endure  to  look  by  night 
in  the  lonesome  woods,  upon  a  spirit  which  walks 
with  a  great  shaft  through  it.  Willy  of  the  Flats 
saw  it,  in  that  fashion,  as  he  went  home  from  the 
Viewer's  feast  on  the  eve  of  St.  Agnes." 

"  Willy  had  seen  too  much  of  the  Viewer's  hollands 
that  night,"  said  Derrick ;  "  and  they  are  spirits  worth 
a  dozen  Paul  Kelpys,  even  if  the  whole  dozen  were 
trussed  upon  the  same  stake,  like  herrings  hung  up 
to  smoke.  In  spite  of  the  fisherman  and  his  bolt,  I 
warrant  you  I  pass  unchallenged  betwixt  this  and 
Mattapany." 

The  secretary,  soon  after  this,  entered  the  hall  and 
confirmed  the  arrangements  which  had  just  been 
made.  He  accordingly  delivered  the  letters  intended 
for  Colonel  Talbot  and  Nicholas  Sewall  to  the  fal 
coner,  and  that  for  Mr.  Notley,  the  late  lieutenant 
general  of  the  province,  to  John  Alward.  To  the 
Indian  was  committed  the  duty  of  bearing  the  mis 
sions  to  such  members  of  the  council  as  resided  either 
in  the  town  or  within  a  few  miles  of  it.  Holding  it 
matter  of  indifference  whether. he  despatched  this 
duty  by  night  or  by  day,  the  Knife  took  it  in  hand 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  75 

at  once,  and  set  forth,  on  foot,  with  a  letter  for 
Colonel  Digges,  who  lived  about  five  miles  off,  at 
the  same  time  that  the  other  two  couriers  mounted 
their  horses  for  their  lonesome  journeys  through  the 
forest. 


.:.'>-   ;T 

76  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


If  we  should  wait  till  you,  in  solemn  council 

With  due  deliberation  had  selected 

The  smallest  out  of  four  and  twenty  evils, 

'I  faith  we  should  wait  long. 

Dash  and  through  with  it — that's  the  better  watchword, 

Then  after,  come  what  may  come. 

PlCCOLOMIFI. 


ON  the  following  day,  the  council,  consisting  of 
some  four  or  five  gentlemen,  were  assembled  at  the 
Proprietary  Mansion.  About  noon  their  number  was 
rendered  complete,  by  the  arrival  of  Colonel  George 
Talbot,  who,  mounted  on  a  spirited,  milk-white  steed 
that  smoked  with  the  hot  vigour  of  his  motion,  dashed 
through  the  gate  and  alighted  at  the  door.  A  pair 
of  pistols  across  his  saddle-bow,  and  a  poniard, 
partially  disclosed  under  his  vest,  demonstrated  the 
precautions  of  the  possessor  to  defend  himself  against 
sudden  assault,  and  no  less  denoted  the  quarrelsome 
aspect  of  the  times.  His  frame  was  tall,  athletic,  and 
graceful;  his  eye  hawk-like,  and  his  features  promi 
nent  and  handsome,  at  the  same  time  indicative  of 
quick  temper  and  rash  resolve.  There  was  in  his 
dress  a  manifestation  of  the  consciousness  of  a  good 
figure — it  was  the  costume  of  a  gallant  of  the  times; 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  77 

and  his  bearing  was  characteristic  of  a  person  ac 
customed  to  bold  action  and  gay  companionship. 

Talbot  was  a  near  kinsman  of  the  Baltimore  fa 
mily,  and  besides  being  a  member  of  the  Proprietary's 
council,  he  held  the  post  of  Surveyor  General,  and 
commanded,  also,  the  provincial  militia  on  the  north 
ern  frontier,  including  the  settlements  on  the  Elk 
River,  where  he  owned  a  large  manor,  upon  which 
he  usually  resided.  At  the  present  time  he  was  in 
the  temporary  occupation  of  a  favourite  seat  of  the 
Proprietary,  at  Mattapany  on  the  Patuxent,  whither 
the  late  summons  had  been  despatched  to  call  him  to 
the  council. 

This  gentleman  was  a  zealous  Catholic,  and  an 
ardent  personal  friend  of  his  kinsman,  the  Proprie 
tary,  whose  cause  he  advocated  with  that  peremptory 
and,  most  usually,  impolitic  determination  which  his 
imperious  nature  prompted,  and  which  served  to 
draw  upon  him  the  peculiar  hatred  of  Fendall  and 
Coode,  and  their  partisans.  He  was  thus,  although 
a  sincere,  it  may  be  imagined,  an  indiscreet  adviser 
in  state  affairs,  little  qualified  to  subdue  or  allay  that 
jealous  spirit  of  proscription  which,  from  the  epoch  of 
the  Protectorate  down  to  this  date,  had  been  growing 
more  intractable  in  the  province. 

Such  was  the  individual  who  now  with  the  firm 
stride  and  dauntless  carriage  of  a  belted  and  booted 
knight  of  chivalry,  to  which  his  picturesque  costume 
heightened  the  resemblance,  entered  the  apartment 
where  his  seniors  were  already  convened. 

"  Well  met !"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  flung  his  hat  and 
7* 


78  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

gloves  upon  a  table  and  extended  his  hand  to  those 
who  were  nearest  him.  "  How  fares  it,  gentlemen  ? 
What  devil  of  mutiny  is  abroad  now?  Has  that  pim 
pled  fellow  of  fustian,  that  swiller  of  the  leavings  of 
a  tap  room,  the  worshipful  king  of  the  Burgesses, 
master  Jack  Coode,  got  drunk  again  and  begun  to 
bully  in  his  cups?  The  falconer  who  hammered  at 
my  door  last  night,  as  if  he  would  have  beaten  your 
Lordship's  house  about  my  ears,  could  tell  me  nothing 
of  the  cause  of  this  sudden  convocation,  save  that 
Driving  Dick  had  come  in  hot  haste  from  James 
Town  with  letters  that  had  set  the  mansion  here  all 
agog,  from  his  Lordship's  closet  down  to  the  scul 
lery." 

"With  proper  abatement  for  the  falconer's  love  of 
gossip,"  said  the  Proprietary,  "he  told  you  true. 
The  letters  are  there  on  the  table.  When  you  have 
read  them,  you  will  see  that  with  good  reason  I 
might  make  some  commotion  in  my  house. 

Talbot  ran  his  eye  over  the  papers.  "  Well,  and 
well — an  old  story!"  he  said,  as  he  threw  one  letter 
aside  and  look  up  another.  "  Antichrist — the  Red 
Lady  of  Babylon — the  Jesuits — and  the  devil:  we 
have  had  it  so  often  that  the  lecture  is  somewhat 
stale.  The  truculent  Papists  are  the  authors  of  all 
evil !  We  had  the  Geneva  band  in  fashion  for  a  time; 
but  that  wore  out  with  old  Noll.  And  then  comes 
another  flight  of  kestrels,  and  we  must  have  the 
thirty-nine  articles  served  up  for  a  daily  dish.  That 
spider,  Master  Yeo,  has  grown  to  be  a  crony  of  his 
grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  is  busy  to 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  79 

knit  his  web  around  every  poor  catholic  fly  of  the 
province." 

"  This  must  be  managed  without  temper,"  said 
Darnall,  the  oldest  member  present,  except  the  Chan 
cellor.  "  Our  adversaries  will  find  their  advantage 
in  our  resolves,  if  made  in  the  heat  of  passion." 

"  You  say  true,"  replied  Talbot.  "  I  am  a  fool  in 
my  humour ;  but  it  doth  move  me  to  the  last  extre 
mity  of  endurance  to  be  ever  goaded  with  this  shallow 
and  hypocritical  pretence  of  sanctity.  They  prate 
of  the  wickedness  of  the  province,  forsooth  !  our  evil 
deportment,  and  loose  living,  and  notorious  scandal ! 
all  will  be  cured,  in  the  opinion  of  these  solemn  Pha 
risees,  by  turning  that  good  man,  Lord  Charles  and 
his  friends  out  of  his  own  province,  and  by  setting 
up  parson  Yeo  in  a  fat  benefice  under  the  wing  of  an 
established  church." 

"  Read  on,"  said  Lord  Baltimore,  "  and  you  shall 
see  the  sum  of  all,  in  the  argument  that  it  is  not  fit 
Papists  should  bear  rule  over  the  free-born  subjects 
of  the  English  crown ;  and,  as  a  conclusion  to  that,  a 
summary  order  to  discharge  every  friend  of  our  holy 
church  from  my  employ." 

Talbot  read  the  letter  to  the  end. 

"  So  be  it !"  he  ejaculated,  as  he  threw  the  letter 
from  him,  and  flung  himself  back  into  his  chair. 
"You  will  obey  this  high  behest?  With  all  humble 
ness,  we  will  thank  these  knaves  for  their  many  con 
descensions,  and  their  good  favours.  Your  uncle, 
the  Chancellor  here,  our  old  frosted  comrade,  is  the 
first  that  your  Lordship  will  give  bare-headed  to  the 


80  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

sky.  As  for  myself,  I  have  been  voted  an  incarnate 
devil  in  a  half  dozen  conclaves — and  so  Fendall  shall 
be  the  surveyor.  I  hope  your  Lordship  will  remem 
ber  that  I  have  a  military  command — a  sturdy  strong 
hold  in  the  fort  of  Christina — and  some  stout  fellows 
with  me  on  the  border.  It  might  be  hard  to  persuade 
them  to  part  company  with  me." 

"  Peace,  I  pray  you,  peace !"  interrupted  the  Pro 
prietary;  "you  are  nettled,  Talbot,  and  that  is  not 
the  mood  for  counsel." 

"  These  pious  cut-throats  here,"  said  Talbot,  "who 
talk  of  our  degeneracy,  slander  us  to  the  whole 
world:  and,  faith,  I  am  not  of  the  mind  to  bear  it!  I 
speak  plainly  what  I  have  thought  long  since — and 
would  rather  do  than  speak.  I  would  arrest  the  ring 
leaders  upon  a  smaller  scruple  of  proof  than  T  would 
set  a  vagrant  in  the  stocks.  You  have  Fendall  now, 
my  Lord — I  would  have  his  fellows  before  long:  and 
the  space  between  taking  and  trying  should  not  add 
much  to  the  length  of  their  beards : — between  trying 
and  hanging,  still  less." 

"  As  to  that,"  said  the  Proprietary,  "  every  day 
brings  us  fresh  testimony  of  the  sedition  afoot,  and 
we  shall  not  be  slow  to  do  justice  on  the  parties.  We 
have  good  information  of  the  extent  of  the  plot  against 
us,  and  but  wait  until  an  open  act  shall  make  their 
guilt  unquestionable.  Master  Coode  is  now  upon  bail 
only  because  we  were  somewhat  too  hasty  in  his 
arrest.  There  are  associates  of  Fendall's  at  work 
who  little  dream  of  our  acquaintance  with  their  de 
signs." 


ROB  OF  THE   BOWL.  81 

"  When  does  your  provincial  court  hold  its  ses 
sions  ?"  inquired  the  Surveyor. 

"  In  less  than  a  month." 

"  It  should  make  sure  work  and  speedy,"  said  Tal- 
bot.  "  Master  Fendall  should  find  himself  at  the  end 
of  his  tether  at  the  first  sitting." 

"  Ay,  and  Coode  too,"  said  one  of  the  council: 
"  notwithstanding  that  the  burgesses  have  stepped 
forward  to  protect  him.  The  House  guessed  well  of 
the  temper  against  your  Lordship  in  England,  when 
they  stood  up  so  hardily,  last  month,  in  favour  of 
Captain  Co6de,  after  your  Lordship  had  commanded 
his  expulsion.  It  wasan  unnatural  contumacy." 

"In  truth,  we  have  rfes^jr  had  peace  in  the  pro 
vince,"  said  another,  "  sincejPendall  was  allowed  to 
return  from  his  banishment.  That  man  hath  set  on 
hotter,  but  not  subtler  spirits  than  his  own.  He  has 
a  quiet  craftiness  which  never  sleeps  nor  loses  sight 
of  his  purpose  of  disturbance." 

"  Alas  !"  said  the  Proprietary,  "  he  has  not  lacked 
material  to  work  with.  The  burgesses  have  been 
disaffected  ever  since  my  father's  death.  I  know  not 
in  what  point  of  kindness  I  have  erred  towards  them. 
God  knows  I  would  cherish  affection,  not  ill-will. 
My  aim  has  ever  been  to  do  justice  to  all  men." 

"  Justice  is  not  their  aim,  my  Lord,"  exclaimed 
Talbot.  "  Oh,  this  zeal  for  church  is  a  pretty  weapon  ! 
and  honest  Captain  Coode,  a  dainty  champion  to 
handle  it !  I  would  cut  the  spurs  from  that  fowl,  if  I 
did  it  with  a  cleaver !"  n 

"  He  is  but  the  fool  in  the  hands  of  his  betters," 


82  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

interposed  Darnall.  "  This  discontent  has  a  broad 
base.  There  are  many  in  the  province  who,  if  they 
•will  not  take  an  open  part  against  us,  will  be  slow  to 
rebuke  an  outbreak — many  who  will  counsel  in  se 
cret  who  dare  not  show  their  faces  to  the  sun." 

"These  men  have  power  to  do  us  much  harm," 
said  Lord  Baltimore  ;  "  and  I  would  entreat  you, 
gentlemen,  consider,  how,  by  concession  to  a  mode 
rate  point,  which  may  comport  with  our  honour,  we 
may  allay  these  irritations.  Leaving  that  question 
for  your  future  advisement,  I  ask  your  attention  to 
the  letters.  The  King  has  commanded — for  it  is 
scarce  less  than  a  royal  mandate." 

"  Your  Lordship,"  said  Talbot,  sarcastically,  "has 
fallen  under  his  Majesty's  disfavour.  You  have, 
doubtless,  failed  somewhat  in  your  courtesies  to  Nell 
Gwynn,  or  the  gay  Duchess;  or  have  been  want 
ing  in  some  observance  of  respect  to  old  Tom  Killi- 
grew,  the  King's  fool.  His  Majesty  is  not  wont  to 
look  so  narrowly  into  state  affairs." 

"  Hold,  Talbot !"  interrupted  the  Proprietary.  "  I 
would  not  hear  you  speak  slightingly  of  the  King. 
He  hath  been  friendly  to  me,  and  I  will  not  forget  it. 
Though  this  mandate  come  in  his  name,  King  Charles, 
I  apprehend,  knows  but  little  of  the  matter.  He  has 
an  easy  conscience  for  an  importunate  suitor.  Oh, 
it  grieves  me  to  the  heart,  after  all  my  father's  care 
for  the  province — and  surely  mine  has  been  no  less — 
it  grieves  me  to  see  this  wayward  fortune  coming 
over  our  hopes  like  a  chill  winter,  when  we  looked 
for  springtide,  with  its  happy  and  cheerful  promises. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  83 

I  am  not  to  be  envied  for  my  prerogative.  Here,  in 
this  new  world,  I  have  made  my  bed,  where  I  had  no 
wish  but  to  lie  in  it  quietly:  it  has  become  a  bed  of 
thorns,  and  cannot  bring  rest  to  me,  until  I  am  min 
gled  with  its  dust.  Well,  since  rebellion  is  the  order 
of  the  times,  I  must  e'en  myself  turn  rebel  now  against 
this  order." 

"  Wherein  might  it  be  obeyed,  my  Lord  ?"  asked 
Darnall.  "  You  have  already  given  all  the  rights  of 
conscience  which  the  freemen  could  ask,  and  the 
demand  now  is  that  you  surrender  your  own.  What 
servant  would  your  Lordship  displace  ?  Look  around 
you :  is  Anthony  Warden  so  incapable,  or  so  hurtful 
to  your  service  that  you  might  find  plea  to  dismiss 
him?" 

"  There  is  no  better  man  in  the  province  than 
Anthony  Warden,"  replied  the  Proprietary,  with 
warmth ;  "  a  just  man  ;  a  good  man  in  whatever  duty 
you  scan  him  ;  an  upright,  faithful  servant  to  his  post. 
My  Lords  of  the  Ministry  would  not  and  could  not, 
if  they  knew  him,  ask  me  to  remove  that  man.  I  will 
write  letters  back  to  remonstrate  against  this  in 
justice." 

"And  say  you  will  not  displace  a  man,  my  Lord, 
come  what  may  !"  exclaimed  Talbot.  "  This  battle 
must  be  fought — and  the  sooner  the  better!  Your 
Lordship  will  find  your  justification  in  the  unanimous 
resolve  of  your  council." 

This  sentiment  was  echoed  by  all  present,  and 
by  some  of  the  more  discreet  an  admonition  was 
added,  advising  the  Proprietary  to  handle  the  subject 


84  ROB  OF  THE   BOWL. 

mildly  with  the  ministry,  in  a  tone  of  kind  expostula 
tion,  which,  as  it  accorded  with  Lord  Baltimore's 
own  feeling,  met  his  ready  acquiescence. 

After  despatching  some  business  of  less  concern, 
the  members  of  the  council  dispersed. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  85 


CHAPTER  VII. 


An  old  worshipful  gentleman  who  had  a  great  estate, 
That  kept  a  brave  old  house  at  a  bountiful  rate. 

THE  OLD  AND  YOUNG  COTTHTIEH. 

But  who  the  countless  charms  can  draw 

That  grac'd  his  mistress  true  ? 
Such  charms  the  old  world  seldom  saw, 

Nor  oft,  I  ween,  the  new. 

Her  raven  hair  plays  round  her  neck 

Like  tendrils  of  the  vine; 
Her  cheeks,  red,  dewy  rose-buds  deck, 

Her  eyes  like  diamonds  shine. 

BRYAN  AND  PEHEKNE. 


ANTHONY  WARDEN  had  resided  in  Maryland  for 
forty  years  before  the  period  of  this  story.  During 
the  greater  portion  of  this  time  he  performed  the 
duties  of  the  Collector  of  the  Proprietary's  revenues 
in  the  port.  By  the  persuasion  of  Cecilius  Calvert 
he  had  become  a  settler  in  the  New  World,  where 
he  had  received  from  his  patron  the  grant  of  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which,  in  progress  of  time,  under  a 
careful  course  of  husbandry,  rendered  him  a  man  of 
VOL.  L— 8 


• 


86  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


easy  fortune.  One  portion  of  this  tract  lay  adjacent 
to  the  town,  and  stretched  along  the  creek  of  St. 
Inigoe's,  constituting  an  excellent  farm  of  several 
hundred  acres.  Upon  this  land  the  Collector  had 
dwelt  from  an  early  period  of  his  settlement. 

A  certain  sturdiness  of  character  that  matched  the 
perils  of  that  adventurous  colonial  life,  and  a  vigor 
ous  intellect,  gave  Mr.  Warden  great  authority  over 
the  inhabitants  of  the  province,  which  was  increased 
by  the  predominant  honesty  of  purpose  and  plain, 
unpretending  directness  of  his  nature.  A  bountiful 
purse  and  jocund  temper  enabled  and  prompted  him 
to  indulge,  almost  without  stint,  that  hospitality  which 
furnishes  the  most  natural  and  appropriate  enjoyment 
of  those  who  dwell  remote  from  the  busy  marts  of 
the  world.  His  companionable  habits  had  left  their 
tokens  upon  his  exterior.  His  frame  was  corpulent, 
his  features  strongly  defined,  his  eye  dark  blue,  with 
a  mastiff  kindness  in  its  glance.  The  flush  of  gene 
rous  living  had  slightly  overmastered  the  wind-and- 
weather  hue  of  his  complexion,  and  given  it  the  tints 
of  a  ripe  pear.  Seventy  years  had  beaten  upon  his 
poll  without  other  badge  of  conquest  than  that  of  a 
change  of  his  brown  locks  to  white; — their  volume 
was  scarcely  diminished,  and  they  still  fell  in  curls 
upon  his  shoulders. 

Two  marriages  had  brought  him  a  large  family  of 
children,  of  whom  the  eldest  (the  only  offspring  of 
his  first  nuptials)  was  Alice  Warden,  a  maiden  lady 
who  now,  well  advanced  in  life,  occupied  the  highest 
post  of  authority  in  the  household,  which  had,  for 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  87 

several  years  past,  been  transferred  to  her  by  the 
demise  of  the  second  wife.  His  sons  had  all  aban 
doned  the  paternal  roof  in  the  various  pursuits  of 
fortune,  leaving  behind  them,  besides  Mistress  Alice, 
a  sister,  the  youngest  of  the  flock,  who,  at  the  epoch 
at  which  I  am  about  to  present  her,  was  just  verging 
towards  womanhood. 

The  dwelling  of  the  Collector  stood  upon  the  high 
bank  formed  by  the  union  of  St.  Tnigoe's  creek  and 
St.  Mary's  river.  It  was,  according  to  the  most  ap 
proved  fashion  of  that  day,  built  of  imported  brick, 
with  a  double  roof  penetrated  by  narrow  and  trian 
gular-capped  windows.  The  rooms  were  large  and 
embellished  with  carved  wainscots  and  a  profusion  of 
chiseled  woodwork,  giving  them  an  elaborate  and 
expensive  aspect.  This  main  building  overlooked, 
with  a  magisterial  and  protecting  air,  a  group  of 
single-storied  offices  and  out-houses  which  were  clus 
tered  around,  one  of  which  was  appropriated  by  the 
Collector  as  his  place  of  business,  and  may  still  be 
seen  with  its  decayed  book-shelves,  a  deserted  ruin 
hard  by  the  mansion  which  yet  survives  in  tolerable 
repair.  This  spacious  domicil,  with  its  broad  porch, 
cottage-like  appendages  and  latticed  sheds,  was  em 
bosomed  in  the  shade  of  elms  and  mulberries,  whose 
brown  foliage,  fanned  by  the  autumnal  breeze,  mur 
mured  in  unison  with  the  plashing  tide  that  beat 
against  the  pebbles  immediately  below.  A  garden  in 
the  rear,  with  trellised  and  vine-clad  gateways,  and 
walks  lined  with  box,  which  the  traveller  may 
yet  behold  in  venerable  luxuriance,  furnished  good 


88  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

store  of  culinary  dainties ;  whilst  a  lawn,  in  front, 
occupying  some  two  or  three  acres  and  bounded  by 
the  cliff  which  formed  the  headland  on  the  river,  lay 
open  to  the  sun,  and  gave  from  the  water  an  unob 
structed  view  of  the  mansion.  The  taste  displayed 
in  these  embellishments,  the  neatness  of  the  grounds, 
the  low,  flower-spangled  hedge  of  thorn  that  guarded 
the  cliff,  the  clumps  of  rose  trees  and  other  orna 
mental  shrubs,  disposed  to  gratify  the  eye  in  the 
shifting  seasons  of  their  bloom,  the  various  accesso 
ries  of  rustic  seats,  bowers  and  parterres — all  united 
to  present  an  agreeable  and  infallible  index  of  that 
purity  of  mind  which  brought  into  assemblage  such 
simple  and  attractive  elements  of  beauty. 

All  around  the  immediate  domain  of  the  dwelling- 
house  were  orchards,  woodlands  and  cultivated  fields, 
with  the  usual  barns  and  other  structures  necessary 
in  the  process  of  agriculture; — the  whole  region  pre 
senting  a  level  plain,  some  fifty  or  sixty  feet  above 
the  tide,  of  singular  richness  as  a  landscape,  and  no 
Jess  agreeable  to  be  looked  upon  for  its  associations 
with  the  idea  of  comfortable  independence  in  the 
proprietor.  This  homestead  had  obtained  the  local 
designation  of  the  Rose  Croft, — a  name,  in  some  de 
gree,  descriptive  of  the  predominant  embellishment 
of  the  spot. 

In  his  attire,  Master  Anthony  Warden,  the  wor 
shipful  Collector  (to  give  him  his  usual  style  of  ad 
dress  in  the  province)  exhibited  some  tendency  to 
wards  the  coxcombry  of  his. day.  It  was  marked  by 
that  scrupulous  observance  of  the  prerogative  of  rank 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  89 

and  age  which  characterised  the  costume  of  the  olden 
time, — smacking  no  little  of  the  flavour  of  the  official 
martinet.  Authority,  amongst  our  ancestors,  was 
wont  to  borrow  consequence  from  show.  The  broad 
line  which  separated  gentle  from  simple  was  recog 
nised,  in  those  days,  not  less  strongly  in  the  habili 
ments  of  the  person  than  in  his  nurture  and  manners. 
The  divisions  between  the  classes  of  society  were  not 
more  authentically  distinguished  in  any  outward  sign 
than  in  the  embroidered  velvet  or  cloth  of  the  man  of 
wealth,  and  the  plain  serge,  worsted,  or  leather  of  the 
craftsman.  The  Collector  of  St.  Mary's,  on  festive 
occasions,  went  forth  arrayed  much  after  the  manner 
in  which  Leslie  has  represented  Sir  Roger  de  Cover- 
ly,  in  his  admirable  painting  of  that  knight;  and  al 
though  he  was  too  vain  of  his  natural  locks  to  adopt 
the  periwig  of  that  period,  yet  he  had  trained  his 
luxuriant  tresses  into  a  studied  imitation  of  this  artifi 
cial  adornment.  His  embroidered  coat  of  drab  vel 
vet,  with  wadded  skirts  and  huge  open  cuffs,  his  lace 
wristbands,  hjs  ample  vest,  and  white  lamb's-wool 
hose  rolled  above  his  knees,  his  buckled  shoe  and 
three-cornered  hat — all  adjusted  with  a  particularity 
that  would  put  our  modern  foppery  to  shame — gave 
to  the  worthy  burgess  of  St.  Mary's  a  substantial 
ascendancy  and  an  unquestioned  regard,  that  render 
ed  him,  next  to  the  Proprietary,  the  most  worshipful 
personage  in  the  province. 

This  pedantry  of  costume  and  the  circumspect 
carriage  which  it  exacted,  were  pleasantly  contrast 
ed  with  the  flowing  vivacity  of  the  wearer,  engen- 

8* 


90  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

'... 

dering  by  their  concourse  an  amusing  compound, 
which  I  might  call  a  fettered  and  pinioned  alacrity 
of  demeanour,  the  rigid  stateliness  of  exterior  seem 
ing  rather  ineffectually  to  encase,  as  a  half-bursting 
chrysalis,  the  wings  of  a  gay  nature. 

Mr.  Warden  was  reputed  to  be  stubborn  in  opinion. 
The  good  people  of  the  town,  aware  of  his  pertina 
city  in  this  particular,  had  no  mind  to  make  points 
with  him,  but,  on  the  contrary,  rather  corroborated 
him  in  his  dogmatism  by  an  amiable  assentation ;  so 
that,  it  is  said,  he  grew  daily  more  peremptory.  This 
had  become  so  much  his  prerogative,  that  the  Lord 
Proprietary  himself  gave  way  to  it  with  as  good  a 
grace  as  the  rest  of  the  inhabitants. 

It  may  be  imagined  that  so  general  a  submission 
to  this  temper  would  have  the  tendency  to  render 
him  a  little  passionate.  They  say  it  was  a  rich  sight 
to  see  him  in  one  of  his  flashes,  which  always  took 
the  bystanders  by  surprise,  like  thunder  in  the  midst 
of  sunshine;  but  these  explosions  were  always  short 
lived,  and  rather  left  a  more  wholesome  and  genial 
clearness  in  the  atmosphere  of  his  affections. 

The  household  at  the  Rose  Croft,  I  have  hinted, 
was  regulated  by  Mistress  Alice,  who  had,  some 
time  before  our  acquaintance  with  her,  reached  that 
period  of  life  at  which  the  female  ambition  for  display 
is  prone  to  subside  into  a  love  of  domestic  pursuits. 
It  was  now  her  chief  worldly  care  and  delight  to  pro 
mote  the  comfort  of  those  who  congregated  around 
the  family  hearth.  In  the  administration  of  this  office, 
it  may  be  told  to  her  praise,  that  she  manifested  that 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  91 

unpretending  good  sense  which  is  a  much  more  rare 
and  estimable  quality  than  many  others  of  better  ac 
ceptation  with  the  world.  As  was  natural  to  her 
tranquil  position  and  kindly  temper,  her  feelings  had 
taken  a  ply  towards  devotion,  which  father  Pierre 
did  not  omit  to  encourage  and  confirm  by  all  the  per 
suasions  enjoined  by  the  discipline  of  the  Romish 
church.  The  gentle  solicitude  with  which  the  minis 
ters  of  that  ancient  faith  watch  and  assist  the  grow 
ing  zeal  of  its  votaries ;  the  captivation  of  its  vene 
rable  ceremonies,  and  the  familiar  and  endearing  tone 
in  which  it  addresses  itself  to  the  regard  of  its  chil 
dren,  sufficiently  account  for  its  sway  over  so  large 
a  portion  of  mankind,  and  especially  for  its  hold  upon 
the  affections  of  the  female  breast. 

Upon  the  thoughtful  character  of  Alice  Warden 
this  influence  shed  a  mellow  and  attractive  light,  and 
gave  to  the  performance  of  her  daily  duties  that  or 
derly  and  uninterrupted  cheerfulness  which  showed 
the  content  of  her  spirit.  She  found  an  engrossing 
labour  of  love  in  superintending  the  education  of  her 
sister.  Blanche  Warden  had  now  arrived  within  a 
span  of  her  eighteenth  year.  Alice  had  guarded  her 
path  from  infancy  with  a  mother's  tenderness,  minis 
tering  to  her  enjoyments  and  instilling  into  her  mind 
all  that  her  own  attainments,  circumscribed,  it  is 
true,  within  a  narrow  circle,  enabled  her  to  teach. 
The  young  favourite  had  grown  up  under  this  domes 
tic  nurture,  aided  by  the  valuable  instructions  of 
father  Pierre,  who  had  the  guidance  of  her  studies, 
a  warm-hearted  girl,  accomplished  much  beyond 


92  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

the  scant  acquisitions  ordinarily,  at  that  day,  within 
the  reach  of  women,  and  distinguished  for  that  con 
fiding  gentleness  of  heart  and  purity  of  thought  and 
word  which  the  caresses  of  friends,  the  perception  of 
the  domestic  affections,  and  seclusion  from  the  busy 
world  are  likely  to  engender  in  an  ardent  and  artless 
nature. 

Of  the  beauty  of  the  Rose  of  St.  Mary's  (for  so 
contemporaries  were  wont  to  designate  her)  tradi 
tion  speaks  with  a  poetical  fervour.  1  have  heard  it 
said  that  Maryland,  far-famed  for  lovely  women,  hath 
not  since  had  a  fairer  daughter.  The  beauty  which 
lives  in  expression  was  eminently  her's;  that  beauty 
which  is  scarcely  to  be  caught  by  the  painter, — 
which,  changeful  as  the  surface  of  the  welling  foun 
tain  where  all  the  fresh  images  of  nature  are  for  ever 
shifting  and  sparkling  with  the  glories  of  the  mirror, 
defies  the  limner's  skill.  In  stature  she  was  neither 
short  nor  tall,  but  distinguished  by  a  form  of  admira 
ble  symmetry  both  for  grace  and  activity.  Her  fea 
tures,  it  is  scarce  necessary  to  say,  were  regular, — 
but  not  absolutely  so,  for,  I  know  not  why,  perfect 
regularity  is  a  hinderance  to  expression.  Eyes  of 
dark  hazle,  with  long  lashes  that  gave,  by  turns,  a 
pensive  and  playful  light  to  her  face,  serving,  at  will, 
to  curtain  from  the  world  the  thoughts  which  other 
wise  would  have  been  read  by  friend  and  foe ;  hair 
of  a  rich  brown,  glossy  and,  in  some  lights,  even  like 
the  raven's  wing, — ample  in  volume  and  turning  her 
brow  and  shoulders  almost  into  marble  by  the  con 
trast;  a  complexion  of  spotless,  healthful  white  and 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  93 

red ;  a  light,  elastic  step,  responding  to  the  gaiety 
of  her  heart ;  a  voice  melodious  and  clear,  gen 
tle  in  its  tones  and  various  in  its  modulation,  accord 
ing  to  the  feeling  it  uttered ; — these  constituted  no 
inconsiderable  items  in  the  inventory  of  her  perfec 
tions.  Her  spirit  was  blithe,  affectionate  and  quick 
in  its  sympathies;  her  ear  credulous  to  believe  what 
was  good,  and  slow  to  take  an  evil  report.  The  in 
nocence  of  her  thoughts  kindled  an  habitual  light 
upon  her  countenance,  which  was  only  dimmed  when 
the  rough  handling  by  fortune  of  friend  or  kinsman 
was  recounted  to  her,  and  brought  forth  the  ready 
tear — for  that  was  ever  as  ready  as  her  smile. 

I  might  tell  more  of  Blanche  Warden,  but  that 
my  task  compels  me  to  hasten  to  the  matter  of  my 
story. 


94  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


The  silk  well  could  she  twist  and  twine, 

And  make  the  fine  march-pine, 

And  with  the  needle  work  : 

And  she  could  help  the  priest  to  say 

His  matins  on  a  holiday 

And  sing  a  psalm  in  kirk. 

DOWBABEL. 


WITH  such  attractions  for  old  and  young  it  will 
readily  be  believed  that  the  Rose  Croft  was  a  favour 
ite  resort  of  the  inhabitants  of  St.  Mary's.  The 
maidens  gathered  around  Blanche  as  a  May-day 
queen;  the  matrons  possessed  in  Mistress  Alice  a 
discreet  and  kind  friend,  and  the  more  sedate  part  of 
the  population  found  an  agreeable  host  in  the  worthy 
official  himself. 

The  family  of  the  Lord  Proprietary  sustained  the 
most  intimate  relations  with  this  household.  It  is 
true  that  Lady  Baltimore,  being  feeble  in  health  and 
stricken  with  grief  at  the  loss  of  her  son,  which  yet 
hung  with  scarcely  abated  poignancy  upon  her  mind, 
was  seldom  seen  beyond  her  own  threshold  ;  but  his 
Lordship's  sister,  the  Lady  Maria — as  she  was  enti- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  95 

tied  in  the  province — was  a  frequent  and  ever  most 
welcome  guest.  Whether  this  good  lady  had  the  ad 
vantage  of  the  Proprietary  in  years,  would  be  an 
impertinent  as  well  as  an  unprofitable  inquiry,  since 
no  chronicler  within  my  reach  has  thought  fit  to  in 
struct  the  world  on  this  point;  and,  if  it  were  deter 
mined,  the  fact  could  neither  heighten  nor  diminish 
the  sober  lustre  of  her  virtues.  Suffice  it  that  she 
was  a  stirring,  tidy  little  woman,  who  moved  about 
with  indefatigable  zeal  in  the  acquittal  of  the  mani 
fold  duties  which  her  large  participation  in  the  affairs 
of  the  town  exacted  of  her — the  Lady  Bountiful  of 
the  province  who  visited  the  sick,  fed  the  hungry, 
clothed  the  naked  and  chid  the  idle.  She  especially 
befriended  such  nursing-mothers  as  those  whose 
scanty  livelihood  withheld  from  them  the  necessary 
comforts  of  their  condition,  and,  in  an  equal  degree, 
extended  her  bounty  to  such  of  the  colonists  as  had 
been  disabled  in  the  military  service  of  the  province, 
— holding  these  two  concerns  of  population  and  de 
fence  to  be  high  state  matters  which  her  family  con 
nexion  with  the  government  most  cogently  recom 
mended  to  her  care.  Though  it  is  reported  of  her, 
that  a  constitutional  tendency  towards  a  too  profuse 
distribution  of  nick-nacks  and  sweet-meats  amongst 
her  invalids,  gave  great  concern  and  embarrassment 
to  the  physician  of  the  town,  and  bred  up  between 
him  and  the  lady  a  somewhat  stubborn,  but  altoge 
ther  good-natured  warfare.  She  was  wont  to  look 
in  upon  the  provincial  school-house,  where,  on  stated 
occasions,  she  gave  the  young  train-bands  rewards 


; 


96  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

for  good  conduct,  and  where  she  was  also  dili 
gent  to  rebuke  all  vicious  tendencies.  In  the  early 
morning  she  tripped  through  the  dew,  with  scrupu 
lous  regularity,  to  mass;  often  superintended  the 
decorations  of  the  chapel ;  gossiped  with  the  neigh 
bours  after  service,  and,  in  short,  kept  her  hands  full 
of  business. 

Her  interest  in  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the 
towns-people  grew  partly  out  of  her  temperament, 
and  partly  out  of  a  feudal  pride  that  regarded  them 
as  the  liegemen  of  her  brother  the  chief, — a  relation 
which  she  considered  as  creating  an  obligation  to 
extend  to  them  her  countenance  upon  all  proper  oc 
casions:  and,  sooth  to  say,  that  countenance  was 
not  perhaps  the  most  comely  in  the  province,  being 
somewhat  sallow,  but  it  was  as  full  of  benevolence 
as  became  so  exemplary  a  spirit.  She  watched  pe 
culiarly  what  might  be  called  the  under-growth,  and 
was  very  successful  in  worming  herself  into  the 
schemes  and  plans  of  the  young  people.  Her  enter 
tainments  at  the  mansion  were  frequent,  and  no  less 
acceptable  to  the  gayer  portion  of  the  inhabitants 
than  they  were  to  her  brother.  On  these  occasions 
she  held  a  little  court,  over  which  she  presided  with 
an  amiable  despotism,  and  fully  maintained  the  state 
of  the  Lord  Proprietary.  By  these  means  the  Lady 
Maria  had  attained  to  an  over-shadowing  popularity 
in  the  town. 

Blanche  Warden  had,  from  infancy,  engaged  her 
deepest  solicitude  ;  and  as  she  took  to  herself  no  small 
share  of  the  merit  of  that  nurture  by  which  her 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  97 

favourite  had  grown  in  accomplishment,  she  felt,  in 
the  maiden's  praises  which  every  where  rang  through 
the  province,  an  almost  maternal  delight.  Scarcely 
a  day  passed  over  without  some  manifestation  of 
this  concern.  New  patterns  of  embroidery,  music 
brought  by  the  last  ship  from  home,  some  invitation 
of  friendship  or  letter  of  counsel,  furnished  occa 
sions  of  daily  intercourse  between  the  patroness  and 
the  maiden  of  the  Rose  Croft;  and  not  unfrequently 
the  venerable  spinster  herself, — attended  by  a  familiar 
in  the  shape  of  a  little  Indian  girl,  Natta,  the  daughter 
of  Pamesack,  arrayed  in  the  trinketry  of  her  tribe — 
alighted  from  an  ambling  pony  at  the  Collector's 
door,  with  a  face  full  of  the  importance  of  busi 
ness.  Perchance,  there  might  be  an  occasion  of 
merry-making  in  contemplation,  and  then  the  lady 
Maria  united  in  consultation  with  sister  Alice  con 
cerning  the  details  of  the  matter,  and  it  was  de 
bated,  with  the  deliberation  due  to  so  interesting 
a  subject,  whether  Blanche  should  wear  her  black 
or  her  crimson  velvet  boddice,  her  sarsnet  or  her 
satin,  and  such  other  weighty  matters  as  have  not 
yet  lost  their  claims  to  thoughtful  consideration  on 
similar  emergencies. 

In  the  frequent  interchange  of  the  offices  of  good 
neighbourhood  between  the  families  of  the  Proprie 
tary  and  of  the  Collector,  it  could  scarce  fall  out 
that  the  Secretary  should  not  be  a  large  participator. 
The  shyness  of  the  student  and  the  habitual  self- 
restraint  taught  him  in  the  seminary  of  Antwerp,  in 
some  degree,  screened  from  common  observation 

VOL.  I.— 9 


98  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

the  ardent  character  of  Albert  Verheyden.  The 
deferential  relation  which  he  held  to  his  patron  threw 
into  his  demeanour  a  reserve  expressive  of  humility 
rather  than  of  diffidence ;  but  under  this  there 
breathed  a  temperament  deeply  poetical  and  a  longing 
for  enterprise,  that  all  the  discipline  of  his  school  and 
the  constraint  of  his  position  could  scarce  suppress. 
He  was  now  at  that  time  of  life  when  the  imagina 
tion  is  prone  to  dally  with  illusions ;  when  youth, 
not  yet  yoked  to  the  harness  of  the  world's  business, 
turns  its  spirit  forth  to  seek  adventure  in  the  domain 
of  fancy.  He  was  thus  far  a  dreamer,  and  dreamed 
of  gorgeous  scenes  and  bold  exploits  and  rare  for 
tune.  He  had  the  poet's  instinct  to  perceive  the 
beautiful,  and  his  fancy  hung  it  with  richer  garlands 
and  charmed  him  into  a  worshipper.  A  mute  wor 
shipper  he  was,  of  the  Rose  of  St.  Mary's,  from  the 
first,  moment  that  he  gazed  upon  her.  That  outward 
form  of  Blanche  Warden,  and  the  motion  and  im 
pulses  of  that  spirit,  might  not  often  haunt  the  Secre 
tary's  dream  without  leaving  behind  an  image  that 
should  live  for  ever  in  his  heart.  To  him  the  thought 
was  enchantment,  that  in  this  remote  wild,  far  away 
from  the  world's  knowledge,  a  flower  of  such  sur 
passing  loveliness  should  drink  the  glorious  light  in 
solitude, — for  so  he,  schooled  in  populous  cities, 
deemed  of  this  sequestered  province, — and  with  this 
thought  came  breathings  of  poetry  which  wrought  a 
transfiguration  of  the  young  votary  and  lifted  him 
out  of  the  sphere  of  this  "  working-day  world."  Day 
after  day,  week  after  week,  and  month  after  month, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  99 

the  Secretary  watched  the  footsteps  of  the  beautifu. 
girl ;  but  still  it  was  silent,  unpresuming  adoration. 
It  entered  not  into  his  mind  to  call  it  love :  it  was 
the  very  humbleness  of  devotion. 

Meantime  the  maiden,  unconscious  of  her  own 
rare  perfections  and  innocent  of  all  thought  of  this 
secret  homage,  found  Master  Albert  much  the  most 
accomplished  and  gentle  youth  she  had  ever  seen. 
He  had,  without  her  observing  how  it  became  so, 
grown  to  be,  in  some  relation  or  other,  part  and 
parcel  of  her  most  familiar  meditations.  His  oc 
casions  of  business  with  the  Collector  brought 
him  so  often  to  the  Rose  Croft  that  if  they  hap 
pened  not  every  day,  they  were,  at  least,  inci 
dents  of  such  common  occurrence  as  to  be  noted 
by  no  ceremony — indeed  rather  to  be  counted  on 
in  the  domestic  routine.  The  Collector  was  apt 
to  grow  restless  if,  by  any  chance,  they  were  sus 
pended,  as  it  was  through  the  Secretary's  mission 
he  received  the  tidings  of  the  time  as  well  as  the 
official  commands  of  the  Proprietary;  whilst  Albert's 
unobtrusive  manners,  his  soft  step  and  pretensionless 
familiarity  with  the  household  put  no  one  out  of  the 
way  to  give  him  welcome.  His  early  roaming 
in  summer  sometimes  brought  him,  at  sunrise,  be 
neath  the  bank  of  the  Rose  Croft,  where  he  look 
ed,  with  the  admiration  of  an  artist,  upon  the 
calm  waters  of  St.  Inigoe's  Creek,  and  upon  the 
forest  that  flung  its  solemn  shades  over  its  farther 
shores.  Not  unfrequently,  the  fresh  and  blooming 
maiden  had  left  her  couch  as  early  as  himself,  and 


100  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

tended  her  plants  before  the  dew  had  left  the  leaves, 
and  thus  it  chanced  that  she  would  find  him  in  his 
vocation ;  and,  like  him,  she  took  pleasure  in  gazing 
on  that  bright  scene,  when  it  was  the  delight  of  both 
to  tell  each  other  how  beautiful  it  was.  And  when, 
in  winter,  the  rain  pattered  from  the  eaves  and  the 
skies  were  dark,  the  Secretary,  muffled  in  his  cloak, 
would  find  his  road  to  the  Collector's  mansion  and 
help  the  maiden  to  while  away  the  tedious  time. 
Even  "when  lay  the  snow  upon  a  level  with  the 
hedge,"  the  two  long  miles  of  unbeaten  track  did 
not  stop  his  visit,  for  the  Secretary  loved  the  adven 
ture  of  such  a  journey;  and  Blanche  often  smiled  to 
see  how  manfully  he  endured  it,  and  how  light  he 
made  of  the  snow-drift  which  the  wind  had  some 
times  heaped  up  into  billows,  behind  which  the  fea 
ther  of  his  bonnet  might  not  be  discovered  while  he 
sat  upon  his  horse. 

In  this  course  of  schooling  Blanche  and  Albert  grew 
into  a  near  intimacy,  and  the  maiden  became  de 
pendent,  for  some  share  of  her  happiness,  upon  the 
Secretary  without  being  aware.  Master  Albert  had 
an  exquisite  touch  of  the  lute  and  a  rich  voice  to 
grace  it,  and  Blanche  found  many  occasions  to  tax 
his  skill :  he  had  a  gallant  carriage  on  horseback, 
and  she  needed  the  service  of  a  cavalier :  he  was 
expert  in  the  provincial  sport  of  hawking,  and  had 
made  such  acquaintance  with  Blanche's  merlin  that 
scarce  any  one  else  could  assist  the  maiden  in  cast 
ing  off  Ariel  to  a  flight.  In  short,  Blanche  followed 
the  bent  of  her  own  ingenuous  and  truthful  nature, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  101 

and  did  full  justice  to  the  Secretary's  various  capa 
city  to  please  her,  by  putting  his  talents  in  requisition 
with  an  unchidden  freedom,  and  without  once  paus 
ing  to  explore  the  cause  why  Master  Albert  always 
came  so  opportunely  to  her  thoughts.  Doubtless,  if 
she  had  had  the  wit  to  make  this  inquiry  the  charm 
of  her  liberty  would  have  been  broken,  and  a  senti 
nel  would,  ever  after,  have  checked  the  wandering 
of  her  free  footstep. 

The  Collector,  in  regard  to  this  intercourse,  was 
sound  asleep.  His  wise  head  was  taken  up  with 
the  concerns  of  the  province,  his  estate,  and  the 
discussion  of  opinions  that  had  little  affinity  to  the 
topics  likely  to  interest  the  meditations  of  a  young 
maiden.  He  was  not  apt  to  see  a  love-affair,  even  if 
it  lay,  like  a  fallen  tree,  across  his  path,  much  less 
to  hunt  it  out  when  it  lurked  like  a  bird  amongst  the 
flowers  that  grew  in  the  shady  coverts  by  the  way 
side.  The  astuteness  of  the  lady  Maria,  however, 
was  not  so  much  at  fault,  and  she  soon  discovered, 
what  neither  Blanche  nor  Albert  had  sufficiently 
studied  to  make  them  aware  of  their  own  category. 
But  the  Secretary  was  in  favour  with  the  lady  Maria, 
and  so,  she  kept  her  own  counsel,  as  well  as  a  good- 
natured  watch  upon  the  progress  of  events. 


9* 


102  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

.*.•  *W- 


CHAPTER  IX. 


TOWARDS  noou  of  the  day  on  which  the  council 
held  their  session,  a  troop  of  maidens  was  seen  issuing 
from  the  chapel.  Their  number  might  have  been 
eight  or  ten.  The  orderly  step  with  which  they  de 
parted  from  the  door  was  exchanged  for  a  playful 
haste  in  grouping  together  when  they  got  beyond  the 
immediate  precincts  of  the  place  of  worship.  Their 
buoyant  carriage  and  lively  gesticulations  betokened 
the  elasticity  of  health  which  was  still  more  unequivo 
cally  shown  in  their  ruddy  complexions  and  well 
rounded  forms. 

Their  path  lay  across  the  grassy  plain  towards  the 
town,  and  passed  immediately  within  the  space  em 
bowered  by  an  ancient,  spreading  poplar,  scarce  a 
hundred  paces  in  front  of  the  chapel.  When  the  bevy 
reached  this  spot,  they  made  a  halt  and  gathered 
around  one  of  their  number,  who  seemed  to  be  the 
object  of  a  mirthful  and  rather  tumultuary  importu 
nity.  The  individual  thus  beset  was  Blanche  War 
den.  Together  with  a  few  elderly  dames,  who  were 
at  this  moment  standing  at  the  door  of  the  chapel  in 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  103 

parley  with  father  Pierre,  this  troop  had  constituted 
the  whole  congregation  who  had  that  morning  at 
tended  the  service  of  the  festival  of  St.  Bridget. 

"Holy  mother,  how  I  am  set.  upon!"  exclaimed 
Blanche,  as,  half  smiling  and  half  earnest,  she  turned 
her  back  against  the  trunk  of  the  tree.  "  Have  I  not 
said  I  could  not?  Why  should  my  birth-day  be 
so  remembered  that  all  the  town  must  be  talking 
about  it?" 

"  You  did  promise,"  said  one  of  the  party,  "  or  at 
least,  Mistress  Alice  promised  for  you,  full  six  months 
ago,  that  when  you  came  to  eighteen  we  should  have 
a  merry-making  at  the  Rose  Croft." 

"  It  would  not  be  seemly — I  should  be  thought 
bold,"  replied  the  maiden,  "  to  be  turning  my  birth 
day  into  a  feast.  Indeed,  I  must  not  and  cannot, 
playmates." 

"  There  is  no  must  not  nor  cannot  in  our  books, 
Blanche  Warden,"  exclaimed  another,  "but  simply 
we  will.  There  is  troth  plighted  for  it,  and  that's 
enough  for  us.  So  we  hold  to  that,  good  Blanche." 

"  Yes,  good  Blanche  !  gentle  Blanche  !  sweetheart, 
we  hold  to  that!"  cried  the  whole  party, in  a  clamor 
ous  onset. 

"Truly,  Grace  Blackiston,  you  will  have  father 
Pierre  checking  us  for  noisy  behaviour,"  said  the 
maiden.  "You  see  that  he  is  now  looking  towards 
us.  It  is  a  pretty  matter  to  make  such  a  coil  about ! 
I  marvel,  has  no  one  ever  been  eighteen  before !" 

"  This  day  se'nnight,"  replied  the  arch  girl  to  whom 
this  reprimand  was  addressed,  "  will  be  the  first  day, 


104  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

Blanche  Warden,  the  Rose  of  St.  Mary's  has  ever 
seen  eighteen ;  and  it  will  be  the  last  I  trow :  and 
what  comes  and  goes  but  once  in  the  wide  world 
should  be  accounted  a  rare  thing,  and  rarities  should 
be  noticed,  sweetheart." 

"If  I  was  coming  eighteen,"  said  a  damsel  who 
scarce  reached  as  high  as  Blanche's  shoulder,  "  and 
had  as  pretty  a  house  for  a  dance  as  the  Rose  Croft, 
there  should  be  no  lack  of  sport  amongst  the  towns 
people." 

"  It  is  easy  to  talk  on  a  two  year's  venture,  little 
Madge,"  replied  Blanche ;  "  for  that  is  far  enough  ofl' 
to  allow  space  for  boasting.  But  gently,  dear  play 
mates  !  do  not  clamour  so  loud.  I  would  do  your 
bidding  wittagood  heart  if  I  thought  it  would  not  be 
called  something  froward  in  me  to  be  noising  my  age 
abroad,  as  if  it  was  my  lady  herself." 

"  We  will  advise  with  father  Pierre  and  Lady 
Maria,"  responded  Grace  Blackiston ;  "  they  are 
coming  this  way." 

At  this  moment  the  reverend  priest,  and  the  ladies 
with  whom  he  had  been  in  conversation,  approached. 
The  sister  of  the  Proprietary  was  distinguished  as 
well  by  her  short  stature  and  neat  attire,  as  by  her 
little  Indian  attendant,  who  followed  bearing  the  lady's 
missal.  The  tall  figure  of  father  Pierre,  arrayed  in  his 
black  tunic  and  belt,  towered  above  his  female  com 
panions.  He  bore  his  square  bonnet  of  black  cloth 
in  his  hand,  disclosing  a  small  silk  cap  closely  fitted 
to  his  crown,  fringed  around  with  the  silver  locks 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  105 

which,  separating  on  his  brow,  gave  the  grace  of 
age  to  a  countenance  full  of  benignity. 

The  presence  of  the  churchman  subdued  the  eager 
gaiety  of  the  crowd,  and  two  or  three  of  the  maidens 
ran  up  to  him  with  an  affectionate  familiarity  to 
make  him  acquainted  with  the  subject  of  their  con 
tention. 

"Father,"  said  Grace  Blackiston,  "  we  have  a  com 
plaint  to  lodge  against  Mistress  Blanche  for  a  pro 
mise-breaker.  You  must  counsel  her,  father,  to  her 
duty." 

"Ah,  my  child !  pretty  Blanche!"  exclaimed  the 
priest,  with  the  alacrity  of  his  native  French  temper, 
as  he  took  the  assailed  damsel  by  the  hand,  "  what 
have  they  to  say  against  you  ?  I  will  be  your  friend 
as  well  as  your  judge." 

"  The  maidens,  father,"  replied  Blanche,  "  have 
taken  leave  of  their  wits,  and  have  beset  me  like  mad 
caps  to  give  them  a  dance  at  the  Rose  Croft  on  my 
birth-day.  And  I  have  stood  on  my  refusal,  father 
Pierre,  as  for  a  matter  that  would  bring  me  into  cen 
sure  for  pertness — as  I  am  sure  you  will  say  it  would 
— with  worshipful  people,  that  a  damsel  who  should 
be  modest  in  her  behaviour,  should  so  thrust  herself 
forward  to  be  observed." 

"  And  we  do  not  heed  that,  father  Pierre,"  inter 
rupted  Grace  Blackiston,  who  assumed  to  be  the 
spokeswoman  of  the  party,  "  holding  it  a  scruple  more 
nice  than  wise.  Blanche  has  a  trick  of  standing  back 
more  than  a  maiden  needs.  And,  besides,  we  say 
that  Mistress  Alice  is  bound  by  pledge  of  word,  and 


106  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

partly  Blanche,  too — for  she  stood  by  and  said  never 
a  syllable  against  it — that  we  should  have  good  cheer 
and  dancing  on  that  day  at  the  Rose  Croft.  It  is  the 
feast  of  the  blessed  virgin,  Terese,  and  we  would  fain 
persuade  Blanche  that  the  festival  should  be  kept  for 
the  sake  of  her  birth-day  saint." 

"My  children,"  said  the  priest,  who  during  this 
debate  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  blooming  troop,  cast 
ing  his  glances  from  one  to  another  with  the  pleased 
expression  of  an  interested  partaker  of  their  mirth,  and 
at  the  same  time  endeavouring  to  assume  a  counte 
nance  of  mock  gravity,  "we  will  consider  this  matter 
with  impartial  justice.  And,  first,  we  will  hear  all 
that  Mistress  Blanche  has  to  say.  It  is  a  profound 
subject.  Do  you  admit  the  promise,  my  child  ?' 

"  I  do  not  deny,  father  Pierre,  that  last  Easter, 
when  we  met  and  danced  at  Grace  Blackiston's, 
my  sister  Alice  did  make  some  promise,  and  I  said 
nothing  against  it.  But  it  was  an  idle  speech  of 
sister  Alice,  which  I  thought  no  more  of  till  now ; 
and  now  should  not  have  remembered  it  if  these  wild 
mates  of  mine  had  not  sung  it  in  my  ear  with  such 
clamour  as  must  have  made  you  think  we  had  all 
gone  mad." 

"  It  is  honestly  confessed,"  said  father  Pierre ; 
"  and  though  I  heard  the  outcry  all  the  way  to  the 
church  door,  yet  I  did  not  deem  the  damsels  abso 
lutely  mad,  as  you  supposed.  I  am  an  old  man,  my 
child,  and  I  have  been  taught  by  my  experience,  in 
what  key  seven,  eight,  or  nine  young  girls  will  make 
known  their  desires  when  they  are  together:  and, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  107 

truly,  it  is  their  nature  to  speak  all  at  the  same  time. 
They  speak  more  than  they  listen — ha,  ha  !  But  we 
shall  be  mistaken  if  we  conclude  they  are  mad." 

"  Blanche,  love,"  interposed  the  Lady  Maria,  "  you 
have  scarce  given  a  good  reason  for  gainsaying  the 
wish  of  the  damsels.  Have  a  care,  or  you  may  find 
me  a  mutineer  on  this  question." 

"  That's  a  rare  lady — a  kind  lady  !"  shouted  seve 
ral.  "Now,  Blanche,  you  have  no  word  of  denial 
left." 

"  I  am  at  mercy,"  said  the  maiden,  *  if  my  good 
mistress,  the  Lady  Maria,  is  not  content.  Whatever 
my  sister  Alice  and  my  father  shall  approve,  and 
you,  dear  lady,  shall  say  befits  my  state,  that  will  I 
undertake  right  cheerfully.  I  would  pleasure  the 
whole  town  in  the  way  of  merry-making,  if  I  may 
do  so  without  seeming  to  set  too  much  account  upon 
so  small  a  matter  as  my  birth-day.  I  but  feared  it 
would  not  be  well  taken  in  one  so  young  as  I  am." 

"  I  will  answer  it  to  the  town,"  said  the  Lady 
Maria.  "It  shall  be  done  as  upon  my  motion;  and 
Mistress  Alice  shall  take  order  in  the  matter  as  a 
thing  wherein  you  had  no  part.  Will  that  content 
you,  Blanche  ?" 

"  I  will  be  ruled  in  all  things  by  my  dear  lady," 
replied  the  maiden.  "  You  will  speak  to  my  father?" 

"It  shall  be  my  special  duty  to  look  after  it  forth 
with,"  responded  the  lady. 

"  Luckily,"  said  father  Pierre,  laughing,  "  this 
great  business  is  settled  without  the  aid  of  the 
church.  Well,  I  have  lost  some  of  my  consequence 


108  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

in  the  winding  up,  and  the  Lady  Maria  is  in  the 
ascendant.  I  will  have  my  revenge  by  being  as 
merry  as  any  of  you  at  the  feast.  So,  good  day,  mes 
enfans !" 

With  this  sally,  the  priest  left  the  company  and 
retired  to  his  dwelling  hard  by  the  chapel.  The 
Lady  Maria  and  her  elderly  companions  moved 
towards  the  town,  whilst  the  troop  of  damsels  with 
increased  volubility  pursued  their  noisy  triumph, 
and  with  rapid  steps  hastened  to  their  several 
homes. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  109 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  Crow  and  Archer  presented  a  busy  scene  on 
the  evening  of  the  day  referred  to  in  the  last  chapter. 
A  report  had  been  lately  spread  through  the  country 
that  the  brig  Olive  Branch, — an  occasional  trader 
between  the  province  and  the  coasts  of  Holland  and 
England — had  arrived  at  St.  Mary's.  In  conse 
quence  of  this  report  there  had  been,  during  the  last 
two  days,  a  considerable  accession  to  the  usual 
guests  of  the  inn,  consisting  of  travellers  both  by 
land  and  water.  Several  small  sloops  and  other  craft 
had  come  into  the  harbour,  and  a  half  score  inland 
proprietors  had  journeyed  from  their  farms  on 
horse-back,  and  taken  up  their  quarters  under  the 
snug  roof  of  Garret  Weasel.  The  swarthy  and 
gaunt  watermen,  arrayed  in  the  close  jackets  and 
wide  kilt-like  breeches  and  in  the  parti-coloured, 
woollen  caps  peculiar  to  their  vocation,  were  seen 
mingling  in  the  tap-room  with  the  more  substantial 
cultivators  of  the  soil.  A  few  of  the  burghers  of 

VOL.  I.— 10 


110  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

St.  Mary's  were  found  in  the  same  groups,  drawn 
thither  by  the  love  of  company,  the  occasions,  per 
chance,  of  business,  or  the  mere  attraction  of  an 
evening  pot  and  pipe.  The  greater  portion  of  this 
assemblage  were  loitering  between  the  latticed  bar 
of  the  common  room,  and  the  quay  in  front  of  the 
house,  which  had  somewhat  of  the  occupation  and 
bustle  of  a  little  exchange.  On  a  bench,  in  one  cor 
ner  of  the  tap-room,  sat,  in  a  ragged,  patched  coat 
resembling  a  pea-jacket,  a  saucy,  vagrant-looking 
fiddler,  conspicuous  for  a  red  face  and  a  playful  light 
blue  eye;  he  wore  a  dingy,  pliant  white  hat,  fretted 
at  the  rim,  set  daintily  on  one  side  of  his  head,  from 
beneath  which  his  yellow  locks  depended  over  either 
cheek,  completely  covering  his  ears ;  and  all  the 
while  scraped  his  begrimed  and  greasy  instrument  to 
a  brisk  tune,  beating  time  upon  the  floor  with  a 
huge  hob-nailed  shoe.  This  personage  had  a  va 
gabond  popularity  in  the  province  under  the  name  of 
Will  of  the  Flats — a  designation  no  less  suited  to  his 
musical  commodity  than  to  the  locality  of  his  osten 
sible  'habitation,  which  was  seated  on  the  flats  of 
Patuxent,  not  above  fifteen  miles  from  St.  Mary's, 
where  he  was  tenant  of  a  few  acres  of  barren  marsh 
and  a  lodge  or  cabin  not  much  larger  than  a  good 
dog  kennel. 

Will's  chief  compeer  and  brother  in  taste  and  in 
clination,  though  of  more  affluent  fortune,  was  Dick 
Pagan,  or  Driving  Dick,  according  to  his  more 
familiar  appellation,  the  courier  who  had  lately 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  Ill 

brought  the  missives  from  James  Town;  a  hard- 
favoured,  weather-beaten,  sturdy,  little  bow-legged 
fellow,  in  russet  boots  and  long  spurs,  and  wrapt  in 
a  coarse  drab  doublet  secured  by  a  leathern  belt, 
with  an  immense  brass  buckle  in  front.  Old  Fame- 
sack,  likewise,  formed  a  part  of  the  group,  and  might 
have  been  observed  seated  on  a  settle  at  the  door, 
quietly  smoking  his  pipe,  as  unmoved  by  the  cur 
rent  of  idlers  which  ebbed  and  flowed  past  him,  as 
the  old  barnacled  pier  of  the  quay  by  the  daily  flux 
and  reflux  of  the  river. 

Such  were  the  guests  who  now  patronised  the 
thriving  establishment  of  Master  Weasel.  These 
good  people  were  not  only  under  the  care,  but  also 
under  the  command  of  our  hostess  the  dame  Doro 
thy,  who  was  a  woman  by  no  means  apt  to  overlook 
her  prerogative.  The  dame  having  been  on  a  visit 
to  a  neighbour  did  not  show  herself  in  the  tap-room 
until  near  the  close  of  the  day;  in  the  mean  time 
leaving  her  customers  to  the  unchidden  enjoyment  of 
their  entertainment  which  was  administered  by  Mat 
ty  Scamper, — a  broad-chested,  red-haired  and  inde 
fatigable  damsel,  who  in  her  capacity  of  adjutant  to 
the  hostess,  had  attained  to  great  favour  with  the 
patrons  of  the  tavern  by  her  imperturbable  good  na 
ture  and  ready  answer  to  all  calls  of  business.  As 
for  Master  Weasel,  never  did  pleasure-loving  mon 
arch  more  cheerfully  surrender  his  kingdom  to  the 
rule  of  his  minister  than  he  to  whatever  power  for 
the  time  was  uppermost, — whether  the  dame  herself, 


112  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

, 

' 

or  her  occasional  vicegerent  Matty  of  the  Sauce 
pan. 

Matty's  rule,  however,  was  now  terminated  by  the 
arrival  of  Mistress  Weasel  herself.  It  is  fit  I  should 
give  my  reader  some  perception  of  the  exterior  of 
the  hostess,  as  a  woman  of  undoubted  impression 
and  consideration  with  the  towns-people.  Being 
now  in  her  best  attire  which  was  evidently  put  on 
with  a  careful  eye  to  effect,  I  may  take  occasion 
to  say  that  one  might  suspect  her  of  a  conscious 
ness  of  some  deficiency  of  height,  as  well  as  of 
an  undue  breadth  of  figure,  both  which  imperfec 
tions  she  had  studied  to  conceal.  She  wore  a 
high  conical  hat  of  green  silk  garnished  with  a 
band  of  pink  ribbon  which  was  set  on  by  inden 
tation  or  teethwise,  and  gathered  in  front  into  a 
spirited  cluster  of  knots.  Her  jacket,  with  long  tight 
sleeves*,  was  also  of  green  silk,  adapted  closely  to 
her  shape,  now  brought  into  its  smallest  compass  by 
the  aid  of  stays,  and  was  trimmed  in  the  same  man 
ner  as  the  hat.  A  full  scarlet  petticoat  reached  within 
a  span  of  her  ankles  and  disclosed  a  buxom,  well- 
formed  leg  in  brown  stocking  with  flashy  clocks  of 
thickly  embossed  crimson,  and  a  foot,  of  which  the 
owner  had  reason  to  be  proud,  neatly  pinched  into  a 
green  shoe  with  a  tottering  high  heel.  Her  black 
hair  hung  in  plaits  down  her  back  :  and  her  counte 
nance, — distinguished  by  a  dark  waggish  eye,  a  clear 
complexion,  and  a  turned-up  nose,  to  which  might 
be  added  a  neck  both  fat  and  fair,  half  concealed  by 
a  loose  kerchief, — radiated  with  an  expression  partly 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  113 

wicked  and  partly  charitable,  but  in  every  lineament 
denoting  determination  and  constancy  of  purpose. 
This  air  of  careless  boldness  was  not  a  little  height 
ened  by  the  absence  of  all  defence  to  her  brow  from 
the  narrow  rim  of  the  hat  and  the  height  at  which  it 
was  elevated  above  her  features. 

The  din  of  the  tap-room  was  hushed  into  momen 
tary  silence  as  soon  as  this  notable  figure  appeared 
on  the  threshold. 

"  Heaven  help  these  thirsty,  roystering  men  !"  she 
exclaimed,  as  she  paused  an  instant  at  the  door  and 
surveyed  the  group  within — "  On  my  conscience, 
they  are  still  at  it  as  greedily  as  if  they  had  just 
come  out  of  a  dry  lent !  From  sunrise  till  noon,  and 
from  noon  till  night  it  is  all  the  same — drink,  drink, 
drink.  Have  ye  news  of  Master  Cocklescraft  ? — I 
would  that  the  Olive  Branch  were  come  and  gone, 
that  I  might  sit  under  a  quiet  roof  again  ! — there  is 
nothing  but  riot  and  reeling  from  the  time  the  skipper 
is  expected  in  the  port  until  he  leaves  it." 

"  True  enough,  jolly  queen !"  said  Ralph  Hay  wood, 
a  young  inland  planter,  taking  the  hand  of  the  merry 
landlady  as  she  struggled  by  him  on  her  way  to  the 
bar — "  what  the  devil,  in  good  earnest,  has  become 
of  Cocklescraft?  This  is  the  second  day  we  have 
waited  for  him.  I  half  suspect  you,  mistress,  of  a 
trick  to  gather  good  fellows  about  you,  by  setting  up 
a  false  report  of  the  Olive  Branch." 

"  Thou  art  a  lying  varlet,  Ralph,"  quickly  re 
sponded  the  dame :  "  you  yourself  came  jogging 
hither  with  the  story  that  Cocklescraft  was  seen  two 


114  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

days  ago,  beating  off  the  Rappahannock. — I  play  a 
trick  on  you,  truly!  You  must  think  I  have  need  of 
custom,  to  bring  in  a  troop  of  swilling  bumpkins  from 
the  country  who  would  eat  and  drink  out  the  cha 
racter  of  any  reputable  house  in  the  hundred,  without 
so  much  as  one  doit  of  profit.  You  have  my  free 
leave  to  tramp  it  back  again  to  Providence,  Ralph 
Haywood,  whenever  you  have  a  mind." 

"Nay,  now  you  quarrel  with  an  old  friend,  Mis 
tress  Dorothy." 

"  Take  thy  hnnd  off  my  shoulder,  Ralph,  thou 
coaxing  villain  ! — Ha,  ha,  I  warrant  you  get  naught 
but  vinegar  from  me,  for  your  treacle. — But  come — 
thou  art  a  good  child,  and  shall  have  of  the  best  in 
this  house : — I  would  only  warn  you  to  call  for  it 
mannerly,  Master  Ralph." 

"  Our  dame  is  a  woman  of  mettle,"  said  another 
of  the  company,  as  the  landlady  escaped  from  the 
planter  and  took  her  station  behind  the  bar. 

"What  has  become  of  that  man  Weasel?"  she  in 
quired  somewhat  petulantly.  "  The  man  I  arn  sure 
has  been  abroad  ever  since  I  left  the  house !  He  is 
of  no  more  value  than  a  cracked  pot ; — he  would  see 
me  work  myself  as  thin  as  a  broom  handle  before  he 
would  think  of  turning  himself  round." 

"  Garret  is  now  upon  the  quay,"  replied  one  of  the 
customers; — "I  saw  him  but  a  moment  since  with 
Arnold  the  Ranger." 

"  With  some  idle  stroller, — you  may  be  sure  of 
that !"  interrupted  the  hostess  : — "  never  at  his  place, 
if  the  whole  house  should  go  dry  as  Cuthberl's  spring 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  115 

at  midsummer.  Call  him  to  me,  if  you  please,  Mas 
ter  Shortgrass. — Michael  Curtis,  that  wench  Matty 
Scamper  has  something  to  do  besides  listen  to  your 
claverings  !  Matty,  begone  to  the  kitchen ;  these 
country  cattle  will  want  their  suppers  presently. — 
Oh,  Willy,  Willy  o'  the  Flats  '.—for  the  sake  of  one's 
ears,  in  mercy,  stop  that  everlasting  twangling  of 
your  old  crowd ! — It  would  disgrace  the  patience 
of  any  Christian  woman  in  the  world  to  abide  in  the 
midst  of  all  this  uproar ! — Nay  then,  come  forward, 
old  crony — I  would  not  offend  thee,"  she  said  in  a 
milder  tone  to  the  fiddler.  "  Here  is  a  cup  of  ale 
for  thee,  and  Matty  will  give  you  your  supper  to 
night.  I  have  danced  too  often  to  thy  music  to  deny 
thee  a  comfort; — so,  drink  as  you  will!  but  pray  you 
rest  your  elbow  for  a  while." 

"  And  there  is  a  shilling  down  on  the  nail,"  said 
Driving  Dick,  as  he  and  the  crowder  came  to 
gether  to  the  bar  at  the  summons  of  the  landlady: 
"  when  that  is  drunk  out,  dame,  give  me  a  space 
of  warning,  that  I  may  resolve  whether  we  shall 
go  another  shot." 

"  Master  Shortgrass  told  me  you  had  need  of  me," 
said  Garret  Weasel,  as  he  now  entered  the  door  ; — 
"what  wouldst  with  me,  wife  Dorothy?" 

"  Get  you  gone  !"  replied  the  wife — "  thou  art  ever 
in  the  way.  I  warrant  your  head  is  always  thrust 
in  place  when  it  is  not  wanted !  If  you  had  been  at 
your  duty  an  hour  ago,  your  service  might  have  been 
useful." 


116  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  I  can  but  return  to  the  quay,"  said  Garret,  at  the 
same  time  beginning  to  retrace  his  steps. 

"  Bide  thee  !"  exclaimed  the  dame  in  a  shrill  voice 
— "  I  have  occasion  for  you.  Go  to  the  cellar  and 
bring  up  another  stoop  of  hollands ;  these  salt  water 
fish  have  no  relish  for  ale — they  must  deal  in  the 
strong: — nothing  but  hollands  or  brandy  for  them." 

The  obedient  husband  took  the  key  of  the  cellar 
and  went  on  the  duty  assigned  him. 

At  this  moment  a  door  communicating  with  an  ad 
joining  apartment  was  thrown  ajar  and  the  head  of 
Captain  Dauntrees  protruded  into  the  tap-room. 

"  Mistress  Dorothy,"  he  said — "  at  your  leisure, 
pray  step  this  way." 

The  dame  tarried  no  longer  than  was  necessary  to 
complete  a  measure  she  was  filling  for  a  customer, 
and  then  went  into  the  room  to  which  she  had  been 
summoned.  This  was  a  little  parlour,  where  the 
Captain  of  musqueteers  had  been  regaling  himself 
for  the  last  hour  over  a  jorum  of  a!e,  in  solitary  ru 
mination.  An  open  window  gave  to  his  view  the 
full  expanse  of  the  river,  now  glowing  with  the  rich 
reflexions  of  sunset ;  and  a  balmy  October  breeze 
played  through  the  apartment  and  refreshed  without 
chilling  the  frame  of  the  comfortable  Captain.  He 
was  seated  near  the  window  in  a  large  easy  chair 
when  the  hostess  entered. 

"  Welcome  dame,"  he  said,  without  rising  from  his 
seat,  at  the  same  time  offering  his  hand,  which  was 
readily  accepted  by  the  landlady. — "By  St.  Gregory 
and  St.  Michael  both,  a  more  buxom  and  tidy  piece 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  117 

of  flesh  and  blood  hath  never  sailed  between  the  two 
headlands  of  Potomac,  than  thou  art!  You  are  for 
a  junketing,  Mistress  Dorothy;  you  are  tricked  out 
like  a  queen  this  evening !  I  have  never  seen  thee 
in  thy  new  suit  before.  Thou  art  as  gay  as  a  mary- 
gold  :  and  I  wear  thy  colours,  thou  laughing  mother 
of  mischief!  Green  is  the  livery  of  thy  true  knight. 
Has  your  goodman,  honest  Garret,  come  home  yet, 
dame?" 

"  What  would  you  with  my  husband,  Master  Bald- 
pate  ?  There  is  no  good  in  the  wind  when  you  throw 
yourself  into  the  big  chair  of  this  parlour." 

"  In  truth,  dame,  I  only  came  to  make  a  short 
night  of  it  with  you  and  your  worthy  spouse.  Do 
not  show  your  white  teeth  at  me,  hussy, — you  are 
too  old  to  bite.  Tell  Matty  to  spread  supper  for 
me  in  this  parlour.  Arnold  and  Pamesack  will  par 
take  with  me;  and  if  the  veritable  and  most  authentic 
head  of  this  house — I  mean  yourself,  mistress — have 
no  need  of  Garret,  I  would  entreat  to  have  him  in 
company.  By  the  hand  of  thy  soldier,  Mistress  Do 
rothy  !  I  am  glad  to  see  you  thrive  so  in  your  calling. 
You  will  spare  me  Garret,  dame?  Come,  I  know 
you  have  not  learnt  how  to  refuse  me  a  boon." 

"  You  are  a  saucy  Jack,  Master  Captain,"  replied 
the  dame.  "I  know  you  of  old:  you  would  have  a 
rouse  with  that  thriftless  babe  my  husband.  You 
sent  him  reeling  home  only  last  night.  How  can  you 
look  me  in  the  face,  knowing  him,  as  you  do,  for  a 
most  shallow  vessel,  Captain  Dauntrees  ?" 

"  Fie  on  thee,  dame !     You  disgrace  your  own 


118  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

flesh  and  blood  by  such  speech.  Did  you  not  choose 
him  for  his  qualities  ? — ay,  and  with  all  circumspec 
tion,  as  a  woman  of  experience.  You  had  two  hus 
bands  before  Garret,  and  when  you  took  him  for  a 
third,  it  was  not  in  ignorance  of  the  sex.  Look  thee 
in  the  face !  I  dare, — yea,  and  at  thy  whole  confi 
guration.  Faith,  you  wear  most  bravely,  Mistress 
Weasel!  Stand  apart,  and  let  me  survey:  turn  thy 
shoulders  round,"  he  added,  as  by  a  sleight  he  twirled 
the  dame  upon  her  heel  so  as  to  bring  her  back  to  his 
view — "  thou  art  a  woman  of  ten  thousand,  and  1 
envy  Garret  such  store  of  womanly  wealth." 

"  If  Garret  were  the  man  I  took  him  for,  Master 
Captain,"  said  the  dame  with  a  saucy  smile,  "  you 
would  have  borne  a  broken  head  long  since.  But  he 
has  his  virtues,  such  as  they  are, — though  they  rnay 
lie  in  an  egg-shell:  and  Garret  has  his  frailties  too, 
like  other  men:  alack,  there  is  no  denying  it!" 

"  Frailties,  forsooth  !  Which  of  us  has  not,  dame  ? 
Garret  is  an  honest  man  ; — somewhat  old — a  shade 
or  so:  yet  it  is  but  a  shade.  For  my  sake,  pretty 
hostess,  you  will  allow  him  to  sup  with  us?  Speak 
it  kindly,  sweetheart — good,  old  Garret's  jolly,  young 
wife !" 

"  Thou  wheedling  devil !"  said  the  landlady;  "  Gar 
ret  is  no  older  than  thou  art.  But,  truly,  I  may  say 
he  is  of  little  account  in  the  tap-room ;  so,  he  shall 
come  to  you,  Captain.  But,  look  you,  he  is  weak, 
and  must  not  be  over-charged." 

"  He  shall  not,  mistress — you  have  a  soldier's  word 
for  that.  I  could  have  sworn  you  would  not  deny 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  119 

me.  Hark  you,  dame, — bring  thine  ear  to  my  lips; 
— a  word  in  secret." 

The  hostess  bent  her  head  down,  as  the  Captain 
desired,  when  he  said  in  a  half  whisper, "  Send  me  a 
flask  of  the  best, — you  understand  ?  And  there's  for 
thy  pains !"  he  added,  as  he  saluted  her  cheek  with  a 
kiss. 

"And  there's  for  thy  impudence,  saucy  Captain!" 
retorted  the  spirited  landlady  as  she  bestowed  the 
palm  of  her  hand  on  the  side  of  his  head  and  fled  out 
of  the  apartment. 

Dauntrees  sprang  from  his  chair  and  chased  the 
retreating  dame  into  the  midst  of  the  crowd  of  the 
tap-room,  by  whose  aid  she  was  enabled  to  make  her 
escape.  Here  he  encountered  Garret  Weasel,  with 
whom  he  went  forth  in  quest  of  Arnold  and  the  In 
dian,  who  were  to  be  his  guests  at  supper. 

In  the  course  of  the  next  half  hour  the  Captain  and 
his  three  comrades  were  assembled  in  the  little  par 
lour  around  the  table,  discussing  their  evening  meal. 
When  this  was  over,  Matty  was  ordered  to  clear  the 
board  and  to  place  a  bottle  of  wine  and  glasses  be 
fore  the  party,  and  then  to  leave  the  room. 

"  You  must  know,  Garret,"  said  Dauntrees  when 
the  serving-maid  had  retired,  "that  we  go  to-night 
to  visit  the  Wizard's  Chapel  by  his  Lordship's  order; 
and  as  I  would  have  stout  fellows  with  me,  I  have 
come  down  here  on  purpose  to  take  you  along." 

"  Heaven  bless  us,  Master  Jasper  Dauntrees  !"  ex 
claimed  Garret,  somewhat  confounded  with  this  sud 
den  appeal  to  his  valour,  which  was  not  of  that 


120  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

prompt  complexion  to  stand  so  instant  a  demand, 
and  yet  which  the  publican  was  never  willing  to 
have  doubted — "  truly  there  be  three  of  you,  and  it 
might  mar  the  matter  to  have  too  many  on  so  secret 
an  outgoing" 

"  Tush,  man, — that  has  been  considered.  His  Lord 
ship  especially  looks  to  your  going:  you  cannot 
choose  but  go." 

"But  my  wife,  Captain  Dauntrees" 

•'  Leave  that  to  me,"  said  the  Captain ;  "  I  will  ma 
nage  it  as  handsomely  as  the  taking  of  Troy.  Wor 
thy  Garret,  say  naught  against  it — you  must  go,  and 
take  with  you  a  few  bottles  of  Canary  and  a  good 
luncheon  of  provender  in  the  basket.  You  shall  be 
our  commissary.  I  came  on  set  purpose  to  procure 
the  assistance  of  your  experience,  and  store  of  com 
fortable  sustenance.  Get  the  bottles,  Garret, — his 
Lordship  pays  the  scot  to-night." 

"  I  should  have  my  nag,"  said  Garret,  "  and  the 
dame  keeps  the  key  of  the  stable,  and  will  in  no  wise 
consent  to  let  me  have  it.  She  would  suspect  us  for 
a  rouse  if  I  but  asked  the  key." 

"  I  will  engage  for  that,  good  Weasel,"  said  Daun 
trees:  "  I  will  cozen  the  dame  with  some  special  in 
vention  which  shall  put  her  to  giving  the  key  of  her 
own  motion:  she  shall  be  coaxed  with  a  device  that 
shall  make  all  sure — only  say  you  will  obey  his  Lord 
ship's  earnest  desire." 

"  It  is  a  notable  piece  of  service,"  said  the  inn 
keeper,  meditating  over  the  subject,  and  tickled 
with  the  importance  which  was  ascribed  to  his  co- 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  121 

operation — "and  will  win  thanks  from  the  whole 
province.  His  Lordship  did  wisely  to  give  it  in  charge 
to  valiant  men." 

"In  faith  did  he,"  replied  the  Captain;  "and  it 
will  be  the  finishing  stroke  of  thy  fortunes.  You  will 
be  a  man  of  mark  for  ever  after." 

"lama  man  to  be  looked  to  in  a  strait,  Captain," 
said  Weasel,  growing  valorous  with  the  thought.  "  I 
saw  by  his  Lordship's  eye  yesternight  that  he  was 
much  moved  by  what  I  told  him.  I  have  had  a 
wrestle  with  devils  before  now." 

Arnold  smiled  and  cast  his  eye  towards  the  Indian, 
who,  immediately  after  supper,  had  quitted  the  table 
and  taken  a  seat  in  the  window. 

"  There  be  hot  devils  and  cold  devils,"  said  he, "  and 
he  that  wrestles  with  them  must  have  a  hand  that 
will  hold  fire  as  well  as-iice:  that  is  true,  Fame- 
sack?" 

"Pamesackhas  no  dealing  with  the  white  man's 
devil,"  replied  the  Indian  ;  "  he  has  enough  to  do  with 
his  own." 

"Drink  some  wine,  old  blade,"  said  Dauntrees  as 
he  presented  a  cup  to  Pamesack ;  "  the  Knife  must 
be  sharp  to-night — this  will  whet  his  edge.  We  shall 
have  need  of  your  woodcraft." 

The  Indian  merely  sipped  the  wine,  as  he  replied, 
"  Pamesack  knows  the  broad  path  and  the  narrow 
both.  He  can  lead  you  to  the  Black  House  day  or 
night." 

"  Brandy  is  more  natural  to  his  throat  than  this 
thin  drink,"  said  Weasel,  who  forthwith  left  the 

VOL.  l.—l  1 


122  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

room  and  returned  with  a  measure  of  the  stronger 
liquor.  When  this  was  presented  Pamesack  swal 
lowed  it  at  a  draught,  and  with  something  approach 
ing  a  laugh,  he  said,  "  It  is  the  white  man's  devil — 
but  the  Indian  does  not  fear  him." 

"Now,  Garret,"  said  Dauntrees,"  we  have  no  time 
to  lose.  Make  ready  your  basket  and  bottles,  and  lay 
them  at  the  foot  of  the  cedar  below  the  bank,  near 
the  Town  House  steps;  then  hasten  back  to  the  par 
lour.  I  will  put  the  dame  to  sending  you  on  an 
errand  which  may  be  done  only  on  horseback; — you 
will  mount  with  the  basket  and  make  speedy  way  to 
the  Fort.  Tell  Nicholas  Verbrack,  the  lieutenant, 
that  I  shall  be  there  in  reasonable  time.  -We  must 
set  forth  by  ten ;  it  may  take  us  three  hours  to  reach 
St.  Jerome's." 

"  My  heart  is  big  enough,"  said  Weasel,  once  more 
beginning  to  waver,  "  for  any  venture ;  but,  in  truth, 
I  fear  the  dame.  It  will  be  a  livelong  night  carouse, 
and  she  is  mortal  against  that.  What  will  she  say  in 
the  morning?" 

"  What  can  she  say,  when  all  is  come  and  gone, 
but,  perchance,  that  thou  wert  rash  and  hot-headed  ? 
That  will  do  you  no  harm :  but  an  hour  ago  she 
swore  to  me  that  you  were  getting  old — and  sighed 
too,  as  if  she  believed  her  words." 

"Old,  did  she  say?  Ho,  mistress,  I  will  show  you 
my  infirmities !  A  fig  for  her  scruples !  the  hey 
day  blood  yerks  yet,  Master  Captain.  - 1  will  go 
with  thee,  comrades :  I  will  follow  you  to  any  goblin's 
chapel  twixt  St.  Mary's  and  Christina." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  12o 

"Well  said,  brave  vintner!"  exclaimed  the  Cap 
tain  ;  "  now  stir  thee  !  And  when  you  come  back  to 
the  parlour,  Master  Weasel,  you  shall  find  the  dame 
here.  Watch  my  eye  and  take  my  hint,  so  that  you 
play  into  my  hand  when  need  shall  be.  I  will  get  the 
nag  out  of  the  stable  if  he  were  covered  with  bells. 
Away  for  the  provender !" 

The  publican  went  about  his  preparations,  and  had 
no  sooner  left  the  room  than  the  Captain  called  the 
landlady,  who  at  his  invitation  showed  herself  at  the 
door. 

"  Come  in,  sweetheart.  Good  Mistress  Daffodil," 
he  said,  "  I  called  you  that  you  may  lend  us  your 
help  to  laugh:  since  your  rufflers  are  dispersed,  your 
smokers  obnubilated  in  their  own  clouds,  your  tip 
plers  strewed  upon  the  benches,  and  nothing  more 
left  for  you  to  do  in  the  tap-room,  we  would  have 
your  worshipful  and  witty  company  here  in  the  par 
lour.  So,  come  in,  my  princess  of  pleasant  thoughts, 
and  make  us  merry  with  thy  fancies." 

"  There  is  nothing  but  clinking  of  cans  and  swag 
gering  speeches  where  you  are,  Captain  Dauntrees," 
said  the  hostess.  "  An  honest  woman  had  best  be 
little  seen  in  your  company.  It  is  a  wonder  you 
ever  got  out  of  the  Low  Countries,  where,  what  with 
drinking  with  boors  and  quarrelling  with  belted  bul 
lies,  your  three  years'  service  was  enough  to  put  an 
end  to  a  thousand  fellows  of  your  humour." 

"  There's  destiny  in  it,  dame.  I  was  born  to  be 
the  delight  of  your  eyes.  It  was  found  in  my  horo 
scope,  when  my  nativity  was  cast,  that  a  certain 


124  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

jolly  mistress  of  a  most-especially-to-be-commended 
inn,  situate  upon  a  delectable  point  of  land  in  the  New 
World,  was  to  be  greatly  indebted  to  me,  first,  for  the 
good  fame  of  her  wines  amongst  worshipful  people; 
and,  secondly,  for  the  sufficient  and  decent  praise  of 
her  beauty.  So  was  it  read  to  my  mother  by  the 
wise  astrologer.  And  then,  dame,  you  slander  the 
virtue  of  the  Low  Countries.  Look  at  Arnold  there: 
is  there  a  more  temperate,  orderly,  well-behaved 
liegeman  in  the  world  than  the  ranger'?  And  did  he 
not  bring  his  sobriety  with  him  from  the  very  bosom 
of  the  land  you  rail  against  ?" 

"  If  Arnold  de  la  Grange  is  not  all  that  you  say  of 
him,"  replied  the  hostess,  "  it  is  because  he  has  lost 
some  share  of  his  good  quality  by  consorting  with 
you,  Captain.  Besides,  Arnold  has  never  been  hack 
neyed  in  the  wars." 

"A  Dutch  head,"  said  Arnold,  laughing,  "is  not 
easily  made  to  spin.  In  the  Old  World  men  can 
drink  more  than  in  the  New :  a  Friesland  fog  is  an 
excellent  shaving  horn,  mistress  !" 

"  Heaven  help  the  men  of  the  Old  World,  if  they 
drink  more  than  they  do  in  our  province  !"  exclaimed 
Mistress  Weasel.  "  Look  in  the  tap-room,  and  you 
may  see  the  end  of  a  day's  work  in  at  least  ten  great 
loons.  One  half  are  sound  asleep,  and  the  other  of 
so  dim  sight  that  neither  can  see  his  neighbour." 

"  The  better  reason  then,  Mistress  Dorothy,"  re 
plied  Dauntrees,  "  why  you,  a  reputable  woman, 
should  leave  such  topers,  and  keep  company  with 
sober,  waking,  discreet  friends.  That  cap  becomes 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  125 

thee,  mistress.  I  never  saw  you  in  so  dainty  a  head 
gear.  I  honour  it  as  a  covering  altogether  worthy 
of  thy  comeliness.  Faith,  it  has  been  a  rich  piece  of 
merchandise  to  me !  Upon  an  outlay  of  fourteen 
shillings  which  I  paid  for  it,  as  a  Michaelmas  present 
to  my  excellent  hostess,  I  have  got  in  return,  by  way 
of  profit,  full  thirteen  bottles  of  Garret's  choicest 
Canary,  on  my  wager.  Garret  was  obstinate,  and 
would  face  me  out  with  it  that  you  wore  it  to  church 
last  Sunday,  when  I  knew  that  you  went  only  in  your 
hood  that  day : — he  has  never  an  eye  to  look  on  thee, 
dame,  as  he  ought, — so  he  must  needs  put  it  to  a 
wager.  Well,  as  this  is  the  first  day  thou  hast  ever 
gone  abroad  in  it,  here  I  drink  to  thee  and  thy  cap, 
upon  my  knees — Success  to  its  travels,  and  joy  to  the 
merry  eye  that  sparkles  below  it !  Come,  Arnold, 
drink  to  that,  and  get  Pamesack  another  glass  of 
aqua  vitas: — top  off  to  the  hostess,  comrades!" 

The  toast  was  drunk,  and  at  this  moment  Garret 
Weasel  returned  to  the  room.  A  sign  from  him  in 
formed  the  Captain  that  the  preparation  he  had  been 
despatched  to  make  was  accomplished. 

"  How  looks  the  night,  Garret  ?"  inquired  Daun- 
trees;  "when  have  we  the  moon?" 

"It  is  a  clear  starlight  and  calm,"  replied  the  pub 
lican  ;  "  the  moon  will  not  show  herself  till  near 
morning." 

"  Have  you  heard  the  news,  mistress  ?"  inquired 
the  Captain,  with  an  expression  of  some  eagerness; 
"there  is  pleasant  matter  current,  concerning  the 
11* 


126  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

mercer's  wife  at  the  Blue  Triangle.  But  you  must 
have  heard  it  before  this?" 

"  No,  truly,  not  I,"  replied  the  hostess. 

"  Indeed  !"  said  Daunlrees,  "  then  there's  a  month's 
amusement  for  you.  You  owe  the  sly  jade  a  grudge, 
mistress." 

"  In  faith  I  do,"  said  the  dame,  smiling,  "  arid  would 
gladly  pay  it." 

"  You  may  pay  it  oft'  with  usury  now,"  added  the 
Captain,  "  with  no  more  trouble  than  telling  the 
story.  It  is  a  rare  jest,  and  will  not  die  quickly." 

"  I  pray  you  tell  it  to  me,  good  Captain — give  me 
all  of  it,"  exclaimed  the  dame,  eagerly. 

"  Peregrine  Cadger,  the  mercer,  you  know,"  said 
the  Captain — "  but  it  is  a  long  story,  and  will  take 
time  to  rehearse  it.  Garret,  how  comes  it  that  you 
did  not  teH  this  matter  to  your  wife,  as  I  charged  you 
to  do?"  he  inquired,  with  a  wink  at  the  publican. 

"I  resolved  to  tell  it  to  her,"  said  Weasel,  "  but,  I 
know  not  how,  it  ran  out  of  my  mind — the  day  being 
a  busy  one " 

"  A  busy  day  to  thee !"  exclaimed  the  spouse. 
"  Thou,  who  hast  no  more  to  do  than  a  stray  in  the 
pound,  what  are  you  fit  for,  if  it  be  not  to  do  as  you 
are  commanded?  But  go  on,  Captain;  the  story 
would  only  be  marred  by  Garret's  telling — go  on 
yourself — I  am  impatient  to  hear  it." 

"I  pray  you,  what  o'clock  is  it,  mistress?"  asked 
the  Captain. 

"  It  is  only  near  nine.  It  matters  not  for  the  hour 
— go  on." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  127 

"Nine!"  exclaimed  Dauntrees;  "truly,  dame,  I 
must  leave  the  story  for  Master  Garret.  Nine,  said 
you?  By  my  sword,  I  have  overstaid  my  time! 
I  have  business  with  the  Lord  Proprietary  before  he 
goes  to  his  bed.  There  are  papers  at  the  Fort  which 
should  have  been  delivered  to  his  Lordship  before 
this." 

"  Nay,  Captain,"  said  the  hostess,  "  if  it  be  but  the 
delivery  of  a  pacquet,  it  may  be  done  by  some  other 
hand.  There  is  Driving  Dick  in  the  tap-room:  he 
shall  do  your  bidding  in  the  matter.  Do  not  let  so 
light  a  business  as  that  take  you  away." 

"  To-morrow,  dame,  and  I  will  tell  you  the  tale." 

"  To-night,  Captain — to-night." 

"  Truly,  I  must  go;  the  papers  should  be  delivered 
by  a  trusty  hand — I  may  not  leave  it  to  an  ordinary 
messenger.  Now  if  Garret — but  I  will  ask  no  such 
service  from  the  good  man  at  this  time  of  night ;  it 
is  a  long  way.  No,  no,  I  must  do  my  own  errand." 

"There  is  no  reason  upon  earth,"  said  the  land 
lady,  "  why  Garret  should  not  do  it:  it  is  but  a  step 
to  the  Fort  and  back." 

"  I  can  take  my  nag  and  ride  there  in  twenty 
minutes,"  said  Garret.  "  I  warrant  you  his  Lordship 
will  think  the  message  wisely  entrusted  to  me." 

"  Then  get  you  gone,  without  parley,"  exclaimed 
the  darne. 

"  The  key  of  the  stable,  wife,"  said  Garret. 

"  If  you  will  go,  Master  Garret,"  said  Dauntrees 
— "  and  it  is  very  obliging  of  you — do  it  quick 
ly.  Tell  Nicholas  Verbrack  to  look  in  my  scri- 


128  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

toire ;  he  will  find  the  pacquet  addressed  to  his  Lord 
ship.  Take  it,  and  see  it  safely  put  into  his  Lordship's 
hands.  Say  to  Nicholas,  moreover,  that  I  will  be  at 
the  Fort  before  ten  to-night.  You  comprehend?" 

"  I  comprehend,"  replied  Garret,  as  his  wife  gave 
him  the  key  of  the  stable,  and  he  departed  from  the 
room. 

"Now,  Captain." 

"Well,  mistress:  you  must  know  that  Peregrine 
Cadger,  the  mercer,  who  in  the  main  is  a  discreet 
man " 

"Yes." 

"A  discreet  man — I  mean,  bating  some  follies 
which  you  wot  of;  for  this  trading  and  trafficking 
naturally  begets  foresight.  A  man  has  so  much  to 
do  with  the  world  in  that  vocation,  and  the  world, 
Mistress  Dorothy,  is  inclined  by  temper  to  be  some 
what  knavish,  so  that  they  who  have  much  to  do  with 
it  learn  cautions  which  other  folks  do  not.  Now,  in 
our  calling  of  soldiership,  caution  is  a  sneaking  vir 
tue  which  we  soon  send  to  the  devil;  and  thereby 
you  may  see  how  it  is  that  we  are  more  honest  than 
other  people.  Caution  and  honesty  do  not  much 
consort  together." 

"But  of  the  mercer's  wife,  Captain." 

"  Ay,  the  mercer's  wife — I  shall  come  to  her  pre 
sently.  Well,  Peregrine,  as  you  have  often  seen,  is  a 
shade  or  so  jealous  of  that  fussock,  his  wife,  who 
looks,  when  she  is  tricked  out  in  her  new  russet  gro- 
gram  cloak,  more  like  a  brown  haycock  in  motion 
than  a  living  woman." 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  129 

"  Yes,"  interrupted  the  dame,  laughing,  "and  with 
a  sunburnt  top.  Her  red  hair  on  her  shoulders  is  no 
better,  I  trow." 

"Her  husband,  who  at  best  is  but  a  cotquean — 
one  of  those  fellows  who  has  a  dastardly  fear  of  his 
wife,  which,  you  know,  Mistress  Dorothy,  truly 
makes  both  man  and  wife  to  be  laughed  at.  A  hus 
band  should  have  his  own  way,  and  follow  his  hu 
mour,  no  matter  whether  the  dame  rails  or  not.  You 
agree  with  me  in  this,  Mistress  Weasel?' 

"In  part,  Captain.  I  am  not  for  stinting  a  husband 
in  his  lawful  walks ;  but  the  wife  should  have  an  eye 
to  his  ways:  she  may  counsel  him." 

"Oh,  in  reason,  I  grant;  but  she  should  not  chide 
him,  I  mean,  nor  look  too  narrowly  into  his  hours, 
that's  all.  Now  Peregrine's  dame  hath  a  free  foot, 
and  the  mercer  himself  somewhat  of  a  sulky  brow. 
Well,  Halfpenny,  the  chapman,  who  is  a  mad  wag 
for  mischief,  and  who  is  withal  a  sure  customer  of 
the  mercer's  in  small  wares,  comes  yesternight  to 
Peregrine  Cadger's  house,  bringing  with  him  wor 
shipful  Master  Lawrence  Hay,  the  Viewer." 

At  this  moment  the  sound  of  horse's  feet  from  the 
court-yard  showed  that  Garret  Weasel  had  set  forth 
on  his  ride. 

"  Arnold,  I  am  keeping  you  waiting,"  said  Daun- 
trees.  "  Fill  up  another  cup  for  yourself  and  Pame- 
sack,  and  go  your  ways.  Stay  not  for  me,  friends; 
or  if  it  pleases  you,  wait  for  me  in  the  tap-room.  I 
will  be  ready  in  a  brief  space." 


130  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

The  ranger  and  the  Indian,  after  swallowing  ano 
ther  glass,  withdrew. 

"  The  Viewer,"  continued  Dauntrees,  "  is  a  hand 
some  man, — and  a  merry  man  on  occasion,  too.  I 
had  heard  it  whispered  before — but  not  liking  to 
raise  a  scandal  upon  a  neighbour,  I  kept  my  thoughts 
to  myself — that  the  mercer's  wife  had  rather  a  warm 
side  for  the  Viewer.  But  be  that  as  it  may :  there 
was  the  most  laughable  prank  played  on  the  mercer 
by  Halfpenny  and  the  Viewer  together,  last  night, 
that  ever  was  heard  of.  It  was  thus:  they  had  a 
game  at  Hoodman-blind,  and  when  it  fell  to  Law 
rence  to  be  the  seeker,  somehow  the  fat  termagant 
was  caught  in  his  arms,  and  so  the  hood  next  came 
to  her.  Well,  she  was  blindfolded ;  and  there  was 
an  agreement  all  round  that  no  one  should  speak  a 
word." 

"Ay,  I  understand — I  see  it,"  said  the  hostess, 
eagerly  drawing  her  chair  nearer  to  the  Captain. 

"No,  you  would  never  guess,"  replied  Dauntrees, 
"if  you  cudgelled  your  brains  from  now  till  Christ 
mas.  But  I  can  show  you,  Mistress  Dorothy,  better 
by  the  acting  of  the  scene.  Here,  get  down  on  your 
knees,  and  let  me  put  your  kerchief  over  your  eyes." 

"What  can  that  signify?" inquired  the  dame. 

"  Do  it,  mistress — you  will  laugh  at  the  explosion. 
Give  me  the  handkerchief.  Down,  dame,  upon  your 
marrow  bones : — it  is  an  excellent  jest  and  worth  the 
learning." 

The  landlady  dropped  upon  her  knees,  and  the 
Captain  secured  the  bandage  round  her  eyes. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  131 

"How  many  fingers,  dame1?"  he  asked,  holding 
his  hand  before  her  face. 

"  Never  a  finger  can  I  see,  Captain." 

"  It  is  well.  Now  stand  up — forth  and  away !  That 
was  the  word  given  by  the  Viewer.  Turn,  Mistress 
Dorothy,  and  grope  through  the  room.  Oh,  you  shall 
laugh  at  this  roundly.  Grope,  grope,  dame." 

The  obedient  and  marvelling  landlady  began  to 
grope  through  the  apartment,  and  Dauntrees,  quietly 
opening  the  door,  stole  off  to  the  tap-room,  where 
being  joined  by  his  comrades,  they  hied  with  all 
speed  towards  the  Fort,  leaving  the  credulous  dame 
floundering  after  a  jest,  at  least  until  they  got  beyond 
the  hail  of  her  voice. 


132  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


Pale  lights  on  Cadez'  rocks  were  seen, 
And  midnight  voices  heard  to  moan, 
'Twas  even  said  the  blasted  oak, 
Convulsive  heaved  a  hollow  groan. 
And  to  this  day  the  peasant  still, 
With  cautious  fear  avoids  the  ground, 
In  each  wild  branch  a  spectre  sees 
And  trembles  at  each  rising  ground. 

THE  SPIRIT'S  BLASTED  TREE. 


DAUNTREES,  after  his  unmannerly  escape  from  the 
credulous  landlady,  hastened  with  his  two  compan 
ions,  at  a  swinging  gate,  along  the  beach  to  the  fort, 
where  they  found  Garret  Weasel  waiting  for  them  in 
a  state  of  eager  expectation. 

"Is  the  dame  likely  to  be  angry,  Captain?"  were 
the  publican's  first  words. — "  Does  she  suspect  us  for 
a  frisk  to-night  ?  Adsheartlikens,  it  is  a  perilous  ad 
venture  for  the  morrow  !  You  shall  bear  the  burden 
of  that  reckoning,  Master  Captain." 

"  I  left  Mistress  Dorothy  groping  for  a  secret 
at  Hoodman-blind,"  replied  the  Captain,  laughing. 
"  She  has  found  it  before  now,  and  by  my  computa 
tion  is  in  the  prettiest  hurricane  that  ever  brought  a 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  133 

frown  upon  a  woman's  brow.  She  would  bless  the 
four  quarters  of  thee,  Garret,  if  thou  shouldst  return 
home  to-night,  with  a  blessing  that  would  leave  a 
scorch-mark  on  thee  for  the  rest  of  thy  days.  I 
should  n't  wonder  presently  to  hear  her  feet  pattering 
on  the  gravel  of  the  beach  in  full  pursuit  of  us — 
dark  as  it  is :  I  have  left  her  in  a  mood  to  tempt  any 
unheard  of  danger  for  revenge.  So,  let  us  be  away 
upon  our  errand.  You  have  the  eatables  safe  and 
the  wine  sound,  worthy  Weasel  ? — Nicholas,"  lie 
said,  speaking  .to  the  Lieutenant — "are  our  horses 
saddled  ?" 

"  They  are  at  the  post  on  the  other  side  of  the 
parade,"  replied  the  Lieutenant. 

"Alack!"  exclaimed  Weasel — "Alack  for  these 
pranks  !  Here  will  be  a  week's  repentance.  But  a 
fig  for  conclusions  ! — in  for  a  penny,  in  for  a  pound, 
masters.  I  have  the  basket  well  stored  and  in  good 
keeping.  It  will  be  discreet  to  mount  quickly — I 
will  not  answer  against  the  dame's  rapping  at  the 
gate  to-night :  she  is  a  woman  of  spirit  and  valiant 
in  her  anger." 

"  Then  let  us  be  up  and  away,"  said  the  Captain, 
who  was  busily  bestowing  a  pair  of  pistols  in  his 
belt  and  suspending  his  sword  across  his  body. 

"  A  cutlass  and  pistols  for  me,"  said  the  publican, 
as  he  selected  his  weapons  from  several  at  hand. 

Arnold  and  Pamesack  were  each  provided  with  a 
carbine,  when  Dauntrees,  throwing  his  cloak  across 
his  shoulders,  led  the  way  to  the  horses,  where  the 

VOL.  I.— 12 


134  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

party  having  mounted,  sallied  through  the  gate  of 
the  fort  at  a  gallop. 

Their  road  lay  around  the  head  of  St.  Inigoe's 
creek,  and  soon  became  entangled  in  dark,  woody 
ravines  and  steep  acclivities  which  presented,  at  this 
hour,  no  small  interruption  to  their  progress.  Fame- 
sack,  on  a  slouching  pony,  his  legs  dangling  within 
a  foot  of  the  ground,  led  the  way  with  an  almost  in 
stinctive  knowledge  of  his  intricate  path,  which 
might  have  defied  a  darker  night.  The  stars  shin 
ing  through  a  crisp  and  cloudless  atmosphere,  ena 
bled  the  party  to  discern  the  profile  of  the  tree  tops, 
and  disclosed  to  them,  at  intervals,  the  track  of  this 
solitary  road  with  sufficient  distinctness  to  prevent 
their  entirely  losing  it. 

They  had  journeyed  for  more  than  two  hours  in 
the  depths  of  the  forest  before  they  approached  the 
inlet  of  St.  Jerome's.  Dauntrees  had  beguiled  the 
time  by  tales  of  former  adventures,  and  now  and 
then  by  sallies  of  humour  provoked  by  the  dubious 
valour  of  the  innkeeper, — for  Weasel,  although  ad 
dicted  to  the  vanity  of  exhibiting  himself  in  the  light 
of  a  swashing,  cut-and-thrust  comrade  in  an  emprise 
of  peril,  was  nevertheless  unable,  this  night,  to  sup 
press  the  involuntary  confession  of  a  lurking  faint 
heartedness  at  the  result  of  the  present  venture. 
This  inward  misgiving  showed  itself  in  his  increased 
garrulity  and  in  the  exaggerated  tone  of  his  vaunt- 
ings  of  what  he  had  done  in  sundry  emergencies  of 
hazard,  as  well  as  of  what  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
to  do  on  the  present  occasion  if  they  should  be  so 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  135 

fortunate  as  to  encounter  any  peculiarly  severe  stress 
of  fortune.  Upon  such  topics  the  party  grew  jovial 
and  Dauntrees  laughed  at  the  top  of  his  voice. 

"  The  vintner's  old  roystering  courses  would  make 
us  lose  our  road  in  downright  blindness  from  laugh 
ing,"  he  said,  as  checking  himself  in  one  of  these 
out-breaks,  he  reined  up  his  horse.  "  Where  are  we, 
Pamesack  ?  I  surely  hear  the  stroke  of  the  tide 
upon  the  beach; — are  we  so  near  St.  Jerome's,  or 
have  we  missed  the  track  and  struck  the  bay  shore 
short  of  our  aim  ?" 

"  The  she-fox  does  not  run  to  her  den  where  she 
has  left  her  young,  by  a  track  more  sure  than  mine 
to-night,"  replied  the  guide : — "  it  is  the  wave  strik 
ing  upon  the  sand  at  the  head  of  the  inlet :  you  may 
see  the  stars  on  the  water  through  yonder  wood." 

"  Pamesack  says  true,"  added  Arnold.  "  He  has 
found  his  way  better  than  a  hound." 

A  piece  of  cleared  land,  or  old  field,  a  few  acres 
in  width,  lay  between  the  travellers  and  the  water 
which  began  now  to  glimmer  on  their  sight  through 
a  fringe  of  wood  that  grew  upon  the  margin  of 
the  creek  or  inlet,  and  the  fresh  breeze  showed  that 
the  broad  expanse  of  the  Chesapeake  was  at  no  great 
distance. 

"  The  Wizard's  Chapel,"  said  Dauntrees,  "  by  my 
reckoning  then,  should  be  within  a  mile  of  this  spot. 
It  were  a  good  point  of  soldiership  to  push  forward 
a  vanguard.  That  duty,  Garret,  will  best  comport 
with  your  mad-cap  humour — there  may  be  pith  in  it: 
so,  onward,  man,  until  you  are  challenged  by  some 


136  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

out-post  of  the  Foul  One — we  will  tarry  here  for 
your  report.  In  the  mean  time,  leave  us  your  ham 
per  of  provender.  Come,  man  of  cold  iron,  be 
alert — thy  stomach  is  growing  restive  for  a  deed  of 
valour." 

"  You  are  a  man  trained  to  pike  and  musquetoon," 
replied  the  publican ;  "  and  have  the  skill  to  set  a 
company,  as  men  commonly  fight  with  men.  But  I 
humbly  opine,  Captain,  that  our  venture  to-night 
stands  in  no  need  of  vanguard,  patrol  or  picquet. 
We  have  unearthly  things  to  wrestle  with,  and  do 
not  strive  according  to  the  usages  of  the  wars.  I 
would  not  be  slow  to  do  your  bidding,  but  that  I 
know  good  may  not  come  of  it :  in  my  poor  judg 
ment  we  should  creep  towards  the  Chapel  together, 
not  parting  company.  I  will  stand  by  thee,  Captain, 
with  a  sharp  eye  and  ready  hand." 

"  Thy  teeth  will  betray  us,  Master  Vintner,  even 
at  a  score  rods  from  the  enemy,"  said  Dauntrees : 
"  they  chatter  so  rudely  that  thy  nether  jaw  is  in 
danger.  If  thou  art  cold,  man,  button  up  thy  coat." 

"  Of  a  verity  it  is  a  cold  night,  and  my  coat  is 
none  of  the  thickest,"  replied  Weasel  with  an  in 
creasing  shudder. 

"  I  understand  you,  Garret,"  responded  the  Cap 
tain  with  a  laugh  ;  "  we  must  drink.  So,  friends,  to 
the  green  grass,  and  fasten  your  horses  to  the  trees 
whilst  we  warm  up  the  liver  of  our  forlorn  vintner 
with  a  cup.  We  can  all  take  that  physic." 

This  command  was  obeyed  by  the  immediate  dis- 
• 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  137 

mounting  of  the  party  and  their  attack  upon  one  of 
the  flasks  in  the  basket. 

"  It  has  a  rare  smack  for  a  frosty  night,"  said 
Dauntrees  as  he  quaffed  a  third  and  fourth  cup. 
"  When  I  was  in  Tours  I  visited  the  abbey  of  Mar- 
moustier,  and  there  drank  a  veritable  potation  from 
the  huge  tun  which  the  blessed  St.  Martin  himself 
filled,  by  squeezing  a  single  cluster  of  grapes.  It 
has  the  repute  of  being  the  kindliest  wine  in  all 
Christendom  for  the  invigorating  of  those  who  are 
called  to  do  battle  with  the  devil.  The  monks  of  the 
abbey  have  ever  found  it  a  most  deadly  weapon 
against  Satan.  And  truly,  Master  Weasel,  if  I  did 
not  know  that  this  wine  was  of  the  breed  of  the 
islands,  I  should  take  it  to  be  a  dripping  from  the 
holy  tun  I  spoke  of: — it  hath  the  like  virtue  of  defi 
ance  of  Beelzebub.  So,  drink — drink  again,  worthy 
purveyor  and  valiant  adjutant!" 

"  What  is  that?"  exclaimed  Weasel,  taking  the 
cup  from  his  lips  before  he  had  finished  the  contents. 
"  There  is  something  far  off  like  the  howl  of  a  dog 
arid  yet  more  devilish  I  should  say — did  ye  not  hear 
it,  masters?  I  pray  heaven  there  be  no  evil  warning 
in  this : — I  am  cold — still  cold,  Captain  Dauntrees." 

"  Tush,  it  is  the  ringing  of  your  own  ears,  Garret, 
or  it  may  be,  like  enough,  some  devil's  cur  that 
scents  our  footsteps.  Make  yourself  a  fire,  and 
whilst  you  grow  warm  by  that  grosser  element  we 
will  take  a  range,  for  a  brief  space,  round  the  Cha 
pel.  You  shall  guard  the  forage  till  we  return." 

"  That  is  well  thought  of,"  replied  the  innkeeper 
12* 


138  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

quickly.  "  Light  and  heat  will  both  be  useful  in  our 
onslaught: — while  you  three  advance  towards  the 
shore  I  will  keep  a  look  out  here ;  for  there  is  no 
knowing  what  devices  the  enemy  may  have  a-foot  to 
take  us  by  surprise." 

Some  little  time  was  spent  in  kindling  a  fire,  which 
had  no  sooner  begun  to  blaze  than  Dauntrees,  with 
the  Ranger  and  the  Indian,  set  forth  on  their  recon- 
noissance  of  the  Chapel,  leaving  Weasel  assured  that 
he  was  rendering  important  service  in  guarding  the 
provender  and  comforting  himself  by  the  blazing 
fagots. 

They  walked  briskly  across  the  open  ground  to 
wards  the  water,  and  as  they  now  approached  the 
spot  which  common  rumour  had  invested  with  so 
many  terrors,  even  these  bold  adventurers  them 
selves  were  not  without  some  misgivings.  The  uni 
versal  belief  in  supernatural  agencies  in  the  concerns 
of  mankind,  which  distinguished  the  era  of  this  nar 
rative,  was  sufficient  to  infuse  a  certain  share  of 
apprehension  into  the  minds  of  the  stoutest  men,  and 
it  was  hardly  reckoned  to  derogate  from  the  courage 
of  a  tried  soldier  that  he  should  quail  in  spirit  before 
the  dreadful  presence  of  the  Powers  of  Darkness. 
Dauntrees  had  an  undoubting  faith  in  the  malignant 
influences  which  were  said  to  hover  about  the 
Wizard's  Chapel,  and  nothing  but  the  pride  and  su 
bordination  of  his  profession  could  have  impelled 
him  to  visit  this  spot  at  an  hour  when  its  mysterious 
and  mischievous  inhabitants  were  supposed  to  be 
endued  with  their  fullest  power  to  harm.  The  Ran- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  139 

ger  was  not  less  keenly  impressed  with  the  same 
feelings,  whilst  Pamesack,  credulous  and  supersti 
tious  as  all  of  his  tribe,  was,  like  them,  endowed 
with  that  deeply-imprinted  fatalism,  which  taught 
him  to  suppress  his  emotions,  and  which  rendered 
him  seemingly  indifferent  to  whatever  issue  awaited 
his  enterprise. 

"  By  my  troth,  Arnold,"  said  Dauntrees,  as  they 
strode  forward,  "  although  we  jest  at  yonder  white- 
livered  vintner,  this  matter  we  have  in  hand  might 
excuse  an  ague  in  a  stouter  man.  I  care  not  to  con 
fess  that  the  love  I  bear  his  Lordship,  together  with 
some  punctilio  of  duty,  is  the  only  argument  that 
might  bring  me  here  to  night.  I  would  rather  stand 
a  score  pikes  in  an  onset  with  rny  single  hand,  where 
the  business  is  with  flesh  and  blood,  than  buffet  with 
a  single  imp  of  the  Wizard.  I  have  heard  of  over 
bold  men  being  smote  by  the  evil  eye  of  a  beldam 
hag ;  and  I  once  knew  a  man  of  unquenchable  gaiety 
suddenly  made  mute  and  melancholy  by  the  weight 
of  a  blow  dealt  by  a  hand  which  was  not  to  be  seen: 
the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent  in  sorrowful  pe- 
uance.  They  say  these  spirits  are  quick  to  punish 
rashness." 

"  As  Lord  Charles  commands  we  must  do  his 
bidding,"  replied  the  forester.  "  When  the  business 
in  hand  must  be  done,  I  never  stop  to  think  of  the 
danger  of  it.  If  we  should  not  get  back,  Lord 
Charles  has  as  good  men  to  fill  our  places.  I 
have  been  scared  more  than  once  by  these  night 
devils,  till  my  hair  lifted  my  cap  with  the_fright,  but 


140  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

I  never  lost  my  wits  so  far  as  not  to  strike  or  to  run 
at  the  good  season." 

"  Laet  lopen  die  lopen  luste,  as  we  used  to  say  in 
Holland,"  returned  the  Captain.  "  I  am  an  old  rover 
and  have  had  my  share  of  goblins,  and  never  flinch 
ed  to  sulphur  or  brimstone,  whether  projected  by  the 
breath  of  a  devil  or  a  culverin.  I  am  not  to  be 
scared  now  from  my  duty  by  any  of  Paul  Kelpy's 
brood,  though  I  say  again  I  like  not  this  strife  with 
shadows.  His  Lordship  shall  not  say  we  failed  in 
our  outlook.  I  did  purpose,  before  we  set  out,  to 
talk  with  Father  Pierre  concerning  this  matter,  but 
Garret's  wine  and  his  wife  together  put  it  out  of  my 
head." 

"  The  holy  father  would  only  have  told  you,"  re 
plied  Arnold,  "  to  keep  a  Latin  prayer  in  your  head 
and  Master  Weasel's  wine  and  wife  both  out  of  it." 

"So  he  would,  Arnold,  and  it  would  have  gone 
more  against  the  grain  than  a  hair-shirt  penance.  I 
have  scarce  a  tag  of  a  prayer  in  my  memory,  not 
even  a  line  of  the  Fac  Salve;  and  I  have  moreover  a 
most  special  need  for  a  flask  of  that  vintage  of  Te- 
neriffe  on  a  chilly  night; — and  then,  as  you  yourself 
was  a  witness,  I  had  most  pressing  occasion  to  prac 
tise  a  deceit  upon  Mistress  Dorothy.  The  Priest's 
counsel  would  have  been  wasted  words — that's  true: 
so  we  were  fain  to  do  our  errand  to-night  without 
the  aid  of  the  church. — Why  do  you  halt,  Pame- 
sack  ?" 

"  I  hear  the  tread  of  a  foot,"  replied  the  Indian. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  141 

"  A  deer  stalking  on  the  shore  of  the  creek,"  said 
Dauntrees. 

"More  like  the  foot  of  a  man,"  returned  Fame- 
sack,  in  a  lowered  voice ;  "  we  should  talk  less  to 
make  our  way  safe. — There  is  the  growl  of  a  dog." 

Arnold  now  called  the  attention  of  his  companions 
to  the  outlines  of  a  low  hut  which  was  barely  dis 
cernible  through  the  wood  where  an  open  space 
brought  the  angle  of  the  roof  into  relief  against  the 
water  of  the  creek,  and  as  they  approached  near 
enough  to  examine  the  little  structure  more  minutely, 
they  were  saluted  by  the  surly  bark  of  a  deep  throat 
ed  dog,  fiercely  redoubled.  At  the  same  time  the 
sound  of  receding  footsteps  was  distinctly  audible. 

"  Who  dwells  here  ?"  inquired  Dauntrees,  striking 
the  door  with  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

There  was  no  answer,  and  the  door  gave  way  to 
the  thrust  and  flew  wide  open.  The  apartment  was 
tenantless.  A  few  coals  of  fire  gleaming  from  the 
embers,  and  a  low  bench  furnished  with  a  blanket, 
rendered  it  obvious  that  this  solitary  abode  had  been 
but  recently  deserted  by  its  possessor.  A  hasty  survey 
of  the  hut,  which  was  at  first  fiercely  disputed  by  the 
dog — a  cross-grained  and  sturdy  mastiff — until  a 
sharp  blow  from  a  staff  which  the  forester  bestowed 
sent  him  growling  from  the  premises,  satisfied  the  ex 
plorers  that  so  far,  at  least,  they  had  encountered  no 
thing  supernatural;  and  without  further  delay  or  com 
ment  upon  this  incident  they  took  their  course  along 
the  margin  of  St.  Jerome's  Creek.  After  a  short  inter- 


142  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

val,  the  beating  of  the  waves  upon  the  beach  in 
formed  them  that  they  had  reached  the  neighbour 
hood  of  the  shore  of  the  Chesapeake.  Here  a  halt 
and  an  attentive  examination  of  the  locality  made 
them  aware  that  they  stoodu  pon  a  bank,  which  de 
scended  somewhat  abruptly  to  the  level  of  the  beach 
that  lay  some  fifty  yards  or  more  beyond  them.  In 
the  dim  starlight  they  were  able  to  trace  the  profile 
of  a  low  but  capacious  tenement  which  stood  almost 
on  the  tide  mark. 

"It  is  the  Chapel!"  said  Dauntrees,  in  an  involun 
tary  whisper  as  he  touched  the  Ranger's  arm. 

"  It  is  Paul  Kelpy's  house,  all  the  same  as  I  have 
known  it  these  twenty  years : — a  silent  and  wicked 
house,"  whispered-Arnold,  in  reply. 

"  And  a  pretty  spot  for  the  Devil  to  lurk  in," 
said  Dauntrees,  resuming  his  ordinary  tone. 

"  Hold,  Captain,"  interrupted  the  Ranger,  "  no 
foul  words  so  near  the  Haunted  House.  The  good 
saints  be  above  us !"  he  added,  crossing  himself  and 
muttering  a  short  prayer. 

"  Follow  me  down  the  bank,"  said  Dauntrees,  in 
a  low  but  resolute  voice;  "  but  first  look  to  your  car 
bines  that  they  be  charged  and  primed.  I  will  break 
in  the  door  of  this  ungodly  den  and  ransack  its  cor 
ners  before  I  leave  it.  Holy  St.  Michael,  the  Arch 
fiend  is  in  the  Chapel,  and  warns  us  away !"  he  ex 
claimed,  as  suddenly  a  flash  of  crimson  light  illumi 
nated  every  window  of  the  building.  "  It  is  the  same 
warning  given  to  Burton  and  myself  once  before. 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  143 

Stand  your  ground,  comrades;  we  shall  be  beset  by 
these  ministers  of  sin  !" 

As  the  flashes  of  this  lurid  light  were  thrice  re 
peated,  Pamesack  was  seen  on  the  edge  of  the  bank 
fixed  like  a  statue,  with  foot  and  arm  extended,  look 
ing  with  a  stern  gaze  towards  this  appalling  spectacle. 
Arnold  recoiled  a  pace  and  brought  his  hand  across 
his  eyes,  and  was  revealed  in  this  posture  as  he  ex 
claimed  in  his  marked  Dutch  accent,  "  The  fisher 
man's  blood  is  turned  to  fire :  we  had  best  go  no  fur 
ther,  masters."  Dauntrees  had  advanced  half-way 
down  the  bank,  and  the  glare  disclosed  him  as  sud 
denly  arrested  in  his  career;  his  sword  gleamed  above 
his  head  whilst  his  short  cloak  was  drawn  by  the  mo 
tion  of  his  left  arm  under  his  chin ;  and  his  broad 
beaver,  pistolled  belt,  and  wide  boots,  now  tinged 
with  the  preternatural  light,  gave  to  his  figure  that 
rich  effect  which  painters  are  pleased  to  copy. 

"  I  saw  Satan's  imps  within  the  chamber,"  ex 
claimed  the  Captain.  "  As  I  would  the  blessed  Mar 
tyrs  be  with  us,  I  saw  the  very  servitors  of  the  Fiend ! 
They  are  many  and  mischievous,  and  shall  be  defied 
though  we  battle  with  the  Prince  of  the  Air.  What 
ho,  bastards  of  Beelzebub,  I  defy  thee  !  in  the  name 
of  our  patron,  the  holy  and  blessed  St.  Ignatius,  I 
defy  thee !" 

There  was  a  deeper  darkness  as  Dauntrees  rushed 
almost  to  the  door  of  the  house  with  his  sword  in  his 
hand.  Again  the  same  deep  flashes  of  fire  illumed  the 
windows,  and  two  or  three  figures  in  grotesque  cos- 


144  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

tume,  with  strange  unearthly  faces,  were  seen,  for  the 
instant,  within.  Dauntrees  retreated  a  few  steps  nearer 
to  his  companions,  and  drawing  a  pistol,  held  it  ready 
for  instant  use.  It  was  discharged  at  the  windows 
with  the  next  flash  of  the  light,  and  the  report  was 
followed  by  a  hoarse  and  yelling  laugh  from  the 
tenants  of  the  house. 

"Once  more  I  defy  thee!"  shouted  the  Captain, 
with  a  loud  voice;  "and  in  the  name  of  our  holy 
church,  and  by  the  order  of  the  Lord  Proprietary,  I 
demand  what  do  you  here  with  these  hellish  rites?" 

The  answer  was  returned  in  a  still  louder  laugh, 
and  in  a  shot  fired  at  the  challenger,  the  momentary 
light  of  the  explosion  revealing,  as  Dauntrees  ima 
gined,  a  cloaked  figure  presenting  a  harquebuss 
through  the  window. 

"  Protect  yourselves,  friends  !"  he  exclaimed,  "with 
such  shelter  as  you  may  find,"  at  the  same  time  re 
treating  to  the  cover  of  an  oak  which  stood  upon  the 
bank.  "  These  demons  show  weapons  like  our  own. 
I  will  e'en  ply  the  trade  with  thee,  accursed  spirits  !" 
he  added,  as  he  discharged  a  second  pistol. 

The  Ranger  and  Pamesack  had  already  taken 
shelter,  and  their  carbines  were  also  levelled  and 
fired.  Some  two  or  three  shots  were  returned  from 
the  house  accompanied  with  the  same  rude  laugh 
which  attended  the  first  onset,  and  the  scene,  for  a 
moment,  would  have  been  thought  rather  to  resem 
ble  the  assault  and  defence  of  mortal  foes,  than  the 
strife  of  men  with  intangible  goblins,  but  that  there 
were  mixed  with  it  other  accompaniments  altogether 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  145 

unlike  the  circumstance  of  mortal  battle;  a  loud 
heavy  sound  as  of  rolling  thunder,  echoed  from  the 
interior  of  the  chapel,  and  in  the  glimpses  of  light 
the  antic  figures  within  were  discerned  as  dancing 
with  strange  and  preposterous  motions. 

"  It  avails  us  not  to  contend  against  these  fiends," 
said  Dauntrees.  "  They  are  enough  to  maintain  their 
post  against  us,  even  if  they  fought  with  human  imple 
ments.  Our  task  is  accomplished  by  gaining  sight 
of  the  chapel  and  its  inmates.  We  may  certify  what 
we  have  seen  to  his  Lordship ;  so,  masters,  move 
warily  and  quickly  rearward.  Ay,  laugh  again,  you 
juggling  minions  of  the  devil!"  he  said,  as  a  hoarse 
shout  of  exultation  resounded  from  the  house,  when 
the  assailants  commenced  their  retreat.  "Put  on 
the  shape  of  men  and  we  may  deal  with  you !  For 
ward,  Arnold  ;  if  we  tarry,  our  retreat  may  be  vexed 
with  dangers  against  which  we  are  not  provided." 

"  I  hope  this  is  the  last  time  we  shall  visit  this 
devil's  den,"  said  Arnold,  as  he  obeyed  the  Captain's 
injunction,  and  moved,  as  rapidly  as  his  long  stride 
would  enable  him  to  walk,  from  the  scene  of  their 
late  assault. 

Whilst  these  events  were  passing,  I  turn  back  to 
the  publican,  who  was  left  a  full  mile  in  the  rear  to 
guard  the  baggage  and  keep  up  the  fire, — a  post,  as  he 
described  it,  of  no  small  danger. 

It  was  with  a  mistrusting  conscience,  as  to  the  pro 
priety  of  his  separation  from  his  companions,  that 
Garret,  when  he  had  leisure  for  reflection,  set  him 
self  to  scanning  his  deportment  at  this  juncture.  His 

VOL.  I.— 13 


146  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

chief  scruple  had  reference  to  the  point  of  view  in 
which  Dauntrees  and  Arnold  de  la  Grange  would 
hereafter  represent  this  incident :  would  they  set  it 
down,  as  Weasel  hoped  they  might,  to  the  account  of 
a  proper  and  soldier-like  disposition  of  the  forces, 
which  required  attachment  to  defend  a  weak  point ''. 
or  would  they  not  attribute  his  hanging  back  to  a 
want  of  courage,  which  his  conscience  whispered 
was  not  altogether  so  wide  of  the  truth,  but  which 
he  had  hoped  to  conceal  by  his  martial  tone  of 
bravado?  There  are  many  brave  men,  he  reflected, 
who  have  a  constitutional  objection  to  fighting  in  the 
dark,  and  he  was  rather  inclined  to  rank  himself  in 
that  class.  "  In  the  dark,"  said  he,  as  he  sat  down 
by  the  fire,  with  his  hands  locked  across  his  knees, 
which  were  drawn  up  before  him  in  grasshopper 
angles,  and  looked  steadily  at  the  blazing  brushwood; 
"  in  the  dark  a  man  cannot  see — that  stands  to  reason. 
And  it  makes  a  great  difference,  let  me  tell  you,  mas 
ters,  when  you  can't  see  your  enemy.  A  brave  man, 
by  nature,  requires  light.  And,  besides,  what  sort  of 
an  enemy  do  we  fight?  Hobgoblins — not  mortal  men 
— for  I  would  stand  up  to  any  mortal  man  in  Christen 
dom  ;  ay,  and  with  odds  against  me.  I  have  done 
it  before  now.  But  these  whirring  and  whizzing 
ghosts  and  their  cronies,  that  fly  about  one's  ears  like 
cats,  and  purr  and  mew  like  bats — what  am  I  say 
ing?  no,  fly  like  bats  and  rnew  like  cats — one  may 
cut  and  carve  at  them  with  his  blade  with  no  more 
wound  than  a  boy's  wooden  truncheon  makes 
upon  a  south  wind.  Besides,  the  Captain,  who  is  all 

-    •  Ppl  St-^.f  .40 V\ 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  147 

in  all  in  his  command,  hath  set  me  here  to  watch, 
which,  as  it  were,  was  a  forbidding  of  me  to  go  on 
ward.  He  must  be  obeyed:  a  good  soldier  disputes 
no  order,  although  it  go  against  his  stomach.  It  was 
the  Captain's  wish  that  I  should  keep  strict  watch  and 
ward  here  on  the  skirt  of  the  wood;  otherwise,  I 
should  have  followed  him — and  with  stout  heart  and 
step,  I  warrant  you  !  But  the  Captain  hath  a  soldierly 
sagacity  in  his  cautions ;  holding  this  spot,  as  he 
wisely  hath  done,  to  be  an  open  point  of  danger,  an 
inlet,  as  it  were,  to  circumvent  his  march,  and  there 
fore  straightly  to  be  looked  to.  Well,  let  the  world 
wag,  and  the  upshot  be  what  it  may,  here  are  com 
forts  at  hand,  and  I  will  not  stint  to  use  them." 

Saying  this  the  self-satisfied  martialist  opened  the 
basket  and  solaced  his  appetite  with  a  slice  of  pasty 
and  a  draught  of  wine. 

"  I  will  now  perform  a  turn  of  duty,"  he  continued, 
after  his  refreshment ;  and  accordingly  drawing  his 
hanger,  he  set  forth  to  make  a  short  circuit  into  the 
open  field.  He  proceeded  with  becoming  caution 
on  this  perilous  venture,  looking  slyly  at  every  weed 
or  bush  which  lay  in  his  route,  shuddering  with  a 
chilly  fear  at  the  sound  of  his  own  footsteps,  and  es 
pecially  scanning,  with  a  disturbed  glance,  the  vibra 
tions  of  his  long  and  lean  shadow  which  was  sharply 
cast  by  the  fire  across  the  level  ground.  He  had 
wandered  some  fifty  paces  into  the  field,  on  this 
valorous  outlook,  when  he  bethought  him  that  he  had 
ventured  far  enough,  and  might  now  return,  deeming 
it  more  safe  to  be  near  the  fire  and  the  horses  than 


148  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

out  upon  a  lonesome  plain,  which  he  believed  to  be 
infested  by  witches  and  their  kindred  broods.  He 
had  scarcely  set  his  face  towards  his  original  post 
when  an  apparition  came  upon  his  sight  that  rilled 
him  with  horror,  and  caused  his  hair  to  rise  like 
bristles.  This  was  the  real  bodily  form  and  propor 
tions  of  such  a  spectre  as  might  be  supposed  to  pre 
fer  such  a  spot — an  old  woman  in  a  loose  and  ragged 
robe,  who  was  seen  gliding  up  to  the  burning  fagots 
with  a  billet  of  pine  in  her  hand,  which  she  lighted  at 
the  fire  and  then  waved  above  her  head  as  she  ad 
vanced  into  the  field  towards  the  innkeeper.  Wea 
sel's  tongue  clave  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth,  and  his 
teeth  chattered  audibly  against  each  other,  his  knees 
smote  together,  and  his  eyes  glanced  steadfastly  upon 
the  phantom.  For  a  moment  he  lost  the  power  of 
utterance  or  motion,  and  when  these  began  to  return, 
as  the  hag  drew  nearer,  his  impulse  was  to  fly;  but 
his  bewildered  reflection  came  to  his  aid  and  sug 
gested  greater  perils  in  advance:  he  therefore  stood 
stock-still. 

"Heaven  have  mercy  upon  me! — the  Lord  have 
mercy  upon  me,  a  sinner !"  he  ejaculated ;  "  I  am 
alone,  and  the  enemy  has  come  upon  me." 

"  Watcher  of  the  night,"  said  a  voice,  in  a  shrill 
note,  "  draw  nigh.  What  do  you  seek  on  the  wold  ?" 

"  Tetra  grammaton,  Ahaseel — in  the  name  of  the 
Holy  Evangels,  spare  me !"  muttered  the  innkeeper, 
fruitlessly  ransacking  his  memory  for  some  charm 
against  witches,  and  stammering  out  an  incoherent 
jargon.  "Abracadabra — spare  me,  excellent  and 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  149 

worthy  dame !  I  seek  no  hurt  to  thec.  I  am  old, 
mother,  too  old  and  with  too  many  sins  of  my  own 
to  account  for,  to  wish  harm  to  any  one,  much  less  to 
the  good  woman  of  this  wold.  Oh  Lord,  oh  Lord ! 
why  was  I  seduced  upon  this  fool's  errand?" 

"  Come  nigh,  old  man,  when  I  speak  to  you.  Why 
do  you  loiter  there?"  shouted  the  witch,  as  she  stood 
erect  some  twenty  paces  in  front  of  the  publican  and 
beckoned  him  with  her  blazing  fagot.  "  What  dost 
thou  mutter?" 

"  I  but  sported  with  my  shadow,  mother,"  replied 
Weasel,  with  a  tremulous  attempt  at  a  laugh,  as  he 
approached  the  questioner,  in  an  ill  assumed  effort 
at  composure  and  cheerfulness.  "  I  was  fain  to 
divert  myself  with  an  antic,  till  some  friends  of 
mine,  who  left  me  but  a  moment  since,  returned. 
How  goes  the  night  with  you  dame  ?" 

"  Merrily,"  replied  the  hag,  as  she  set  up  a  shrill 
laugh  which  more  resembled  a  scream,  "  merrily  ;  I 
cannot  but  laugh  to  find  the  henpecked  vintner  of  St. 
Mary's  at  this  time  of  night  within  the  sound  of  the 
tide  at  the  Black  Chapel.  I  know  your  errand,  old 
chapman  of  cheap  liquors,  and  why  you  have  brought 
your  cronies.  You  pretend  to  be  a  liegeman  of  his 
Lordship,  and  you  travel  all  night  to  cheat  him  of 
five  shillings.  You  will  lie  on  the  morrow  with  as 
sad  a  face  as  there  is  in  the  hundred.  I  know  you." 

"  You  know  all  things,  worthy  dame,  and  I  were 
a  fool  to  keep  a  secret  from  you.  What  new  com 
modity,  honest  mistress,  shall  I  find  with  Rob?  The 
port  is  alive  with  a  rumour  of  the  Olive  Branch ;  I 
13* 


150  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

would  be  early  with  the  Cripple.  Ha,  ha  !"  he  added, 
with  a  fearful  laugh,  "  thou  seest  I  am  stirring  in  my 
trade." 

"Garret  Weasel,"  said  the  beldam,  "you  may 
take  it  for  a  favour,  past  your  deservings,  that  Rob 
will  see  thee  alone  at  his  hut  even  in  day  time:  but 
it  is  as  much  as  your  life  is  worth  to  bring  your  huff- 
cap  brawlers  to  St.  Jerome's  at  midnight.  It  is  not 
lawful  ground  for  thee,  much  less  for  the  hot-brained 
fools  who  bear  you  company.  Who  showed  them 
the  path  to  my  cabin,  that  I  must  be  driven  out  at 
this  hour?" 

"Worthy  mistress,  indeed  I  know  not.  I  am  igno 
rant  of  what  you  say!" 

"  They  will  call  themselves  friends  to  the  Chapel : 
but  we  have  no  friends  to  the  Chapel  amongst  living 
men.  The  Chapel  belongs  to  the  dead  and  the  tor 
mentors  of  the  dead.  So  follow  your  cronies  nnd 
command  them  back.  I  warn  you  to  follow,  and 
bring  them  back,  as  you  would  save  them  from  harm. 
Ha!  look  you,  it  is  come  already!"  she  exclaimed, 
raising  her  torch  in  the  air,  as  the  flashes  from  the 
Haunted  House  illumined  the  horizon;  "the  seekers 
have  roused  our  sentries,  and  there  shall  be  angry 
buffets  to  the  back  of  it !"  At  this  moment  the  first 
shot  was  heard.  "  Friends,  forsooth  !"  she  shouted 
at  the  top  of  her  voice:  "  friends,  are  ye?  there  is 
the  token  that  ye  are  known  to  be  false  liars.  Wo 
to  the  fool  that  plants  his  foot  before  the  Chapel  I 
Stand  there,  Garret  Weasel:  I  must  away;  follow  me 
but  a  step — raise  thy  head  to  look  after  my  path,  and 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  151 

I  will  strike  thee  blind  and  turn  thee  into  a  drivelling 
idiot  for  the  rest  of  thy  days.  Remember — " 

In  uttering  this  threat  the  figure  disappeared  ;  Gar 
ret  knew  not  how,  as  he  strictly  obeyed  the  parting 
injunction,  and  his  horrors  were  greatly  increased  by 
the  report  of  the  several  shots  which  now  reached 
his  ear  from  the  direction  of  the  Black  House. 

He  had  hardly  recovered  himself  sufficiently  to 
wander  back  to  the  fire,  before  Dauntrees,  Arnold, 
and  Patnesack  arrived,  evidently  flurried  by  the 
scene  through  which  they  had  passed,  as  well  as  by 
the  rapidity  of  their  retreat. 

"  Some  wine,  Garret !  some  wine,  old  master  of  the 
tap!"  was  Dauntrees'  salutation;  "and  whilst  we 
regale  as  briefly  as  we  may,  have  thou  our  horses 
loose  from  the  trees;  we  must  mount  and  away.  To 
the  horses,  Garret !  'We  will  help  ourselves." 

"  I  pray  you,  Master  Captain,"  inquired  the  pub 
lican,  having  now  regained  his  self-possession,  "what 
speed  at  the  Chapel  ?  Oh,  an  we  have  all  had  a  night 
of  it!  Sharp  encounters  all  round,  masters!  I  can 
tell  you  a  talc,  I  wrarrant  you." 

"  Stop  not  to  prate  now,"  interrupted  Dauntrees, 
in  a  voice  choked  by  the  huge  mouthful  of  the  pasty 
he  was  devouring;  "  we  shall  discourse  as  we  ride. 
That  flask,  Arnold,  I  must  have  another  draught  e'er 
we  mount,  and  then,  friends,  to  horse  as  quickly  as 
you  may  ;  we  may  be  followed  ;  we  may  have  ghost, 
devil,  and  man  of  flesh,  all  three,  at  our  heels." 

"  I  have  had  store  of  them,  I  can  tell  you — ghosts 


152  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

and  devils  without  number,"  said  Weasel,  as  he 
brought  the  horses  forward. 

"  You  shall  be  tried  by  an  inquest  of  both,  for  your 
life,  if  you  tarry  another  instant,"  interposed  the  Cap 
tain,  as  he  sprang  into  his  saddle. 

"  What!  are  we  set  upon,  comrades?"  cried  out  the 
vintner,  manfully,  as  he  rose  to  his  horse's  back,  and 
pricked  forward  until  he  got  between  Parnesack  and 
Arnold.  "Are  we  set  upon?  Let  us  halt  and  give 
them  an  accolado  ;  we  are  enough  for  them,  I  war 
rant  you !  Oh,  but  it  had  well  nigh  been  a  bloody 
night,"  he  continued,  as  the  whole  party  trotted 
briskly  from  the  ground.  "  We  had  work  to  do, 
masters,  and  may  tell  of  it  to-morrow.  Good  Fame- 
sack,  take  this  basket  from  me,  it  impedes  my  motion 
in  these  bushes.  Master  Arnold,  as  we  must  ride  here 
in  single  files,  let  me  get  before  thee :  I  would  speak 
with  the  Captain.  Who  should  I  see,  Captain  Daun- 
trees,"  continued  the  publican,  after  these  arrange 
ments  were  made,  and  he  had  thrust  himself  into  the 
middle  of  the  line  of  march,  and  all  now  proceeded  at 
a  slackened  pace,  "  but  that  most  notorious  and 
abominable  hag,  the  woman  of  Warrington — Kate, 
who  lives,  as  every  body  knows,  on  the  Cliffs.  She 
must  needs  come  trundling  down  before  me,  astride 
a  broomstick,  with  a  black  cat  upon  her  shoulder,  and 
sail  up  to  the  fire  which  I  had  left,  for  a  space,  to  make 
a  round  on  my  watch — for  you  may  be  sworn  a  strict 
watch  I  made  of  it,  going  even  out  of  my  way  to  ex 
plore  the  more  hidden  and  perilous  lurking-places 
where  one  might  suspect  an  enemy  to  lie.  So,  whilst 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  153 

I  was  gone  on  this  quest,  she  whips  in  and  seats  her 
self  by  the  fire,  with  a  whole  score  of  devils  at  their 
antics  around  her.  Then  up  I  come,  naturally  sur 
prised  at  this  audacity,  and  question  them,  partly  in 
soldier-wise,  showing  my  sword  ready  to  make  good 
my  speech,  and  partly  by  adjuration,  which  soon  puts 
me  the  whole  bevy  to  flight,  leaving  Kate  of  Warring- 
ton  at  mercy :  and  there  I  constrained  her  to  divulge 
the  secrets  of  the  Chapel.  She  said  there  had  been 
devilish  work  under  that  roof,  and  would  be  again ; 
when  pop,  and  bang,  and  slash,  and  crash,  I  heard 
the  outbreak,  and  saw  the  devil's  lights  that  were 
flashed.  I  could  hold  no  longer  parley  with  the  hag, 
but  was  just  moving  off"  at  full  speed  to  your  relief, 
determined  in  this  need  to  desert  my  post — which,  in 
my  impatience  to  lend  you  a  hand,  I  could  not  help — 
when  I  heard  your  footfall  coming  back,  and  so  I 
was  fain  to  bide  your  coming." 

"A  well  conceived  sally  of  soldiership,"  said  Daun- 
trees,  "  and  spoken  with  a  cavalier  spirit,  Master 
Garret.  It  hath  truth  upon  the  face  of  it:  I  believe 
every  word.  It  shall  serve  you  a  good  turn  with 
his  Lordship.  What  does  Kate  of  Warrington  in  this 
neighbourhood?  She  travels  far  on  her  broomstick 
— unless,  indeed,  what  seems  likely,  she  has  taken  her 
quarters  in  the  cabin  we  disturbed  to-night.  These 
crows  will  be  near  their  carrion." 

By  degrees  the  party,  as  they  pursued  their  home 
ward  journey,  grew  drowsy.  The  publican  had  lost 
all  his  garrulity,  and  nodded  upon  his  horse.  Arnold 


154  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

and  Pamesack  rode  in  silence,  until  Daunlrees,  as  if 
waking  up  from  a  reverie,  said — 

"  Well,  friends,  we  return  from  no  barren  mission 
to-night.  His  Lordship  may  have  some  satisfaction 
in  our  story;  particularly  in  the  vintner's.  We  shall 
be  ready  to  report  to  his  Lordship  by  noon,  and  after 
that  we  shall  hasten  to  quiet  our  Dame  Dorothy. 
The  night  is  far  spent :  I  should  take  it,  Arnold,  to 
be  past  three  o'clock,  by  the  rising  of  the  moon.  At 
peep  of  day  we  shall  be  snug  upon  our  pallets,  with 
no  loss  of  relish  for  a  sleep  which  will  have  been 
well  earned." 

As  the  Captain  continued  to  urge  his  journey, 
which  he  did  with  the  glee  that  waits  upon  a  safe 
deliverance  from  an  exploit  of  hazard,  he  turned  his 
face  upwards  to  the  bright  orb  which  threw  a  cheer 
ful  light  over  the  scenery  of  the  road-side,  and  in  the 
distance  flung  a  reflection,  as  of  burnished  silver,  over 
the  broad  surface  of  St.  Mary's  river,  as  seen  from 
the  height  which  the  travellers  were  now  descend 
ing.  Not  more  than  two  miles  of  their  route  remained 
to  be  achieved,  when  the  Captain  broke  forth  with  an 
old  song  of  that  day,  in  a  voice  which  would  not  have 
discredited  a  professor : 

"  The  moon,  the  moon,  the  jolly  moon, 
And  a  jolly  old  queen  is.  she! 
She  hath  stroll'd  o*  nights  this  thousand  year, 
With  ever  the  best  of  company. 

Sing1,  Hie  and  hoc  sumus  noclurno, 
Huzza  for  the  jolly  old  moon!" 

"  Why,  Garret,  vintner,  art  asleep,  man  ?"  inquired 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  155 

the  Captain.     "Why  dost  thou  not  join  in  the  bur 
den?" 

"  To  your  hand,  Captain,"  exclaimed  Weasel,  rous 
ing  himself  and  piping  forth  the  chorus — 

"  Hie  and  hoc  sumus  nocturno, 
Huzza  for  the  jolly  old  moon!" 

which  he  did  not  fail  to  repeat  at  the  top  of  his  voice 
at  each  return. 

Dauntrees  proceeded: 

"  She  trails  a  royal  following, 
And  a  merry  mad  court  dotli  keep, 
With  her  chirping1  boys  that  walk  i'  the  shade, 
And  wake  when  the  bailiff's  asleep. 

Sing,  Hie  and  hoc  sumus  nocturno, 

Huzza  for  the  jolly  old  moon! 

"  Master  Owl  he  is  her  chancellor, 
And  the  bat  is  his  serving-man; 
They  tell  no  tales  of  what  they  see, 
But  wink  when  we  turn  up  the  can. 

Sing,  Hie  and  hoc  sumus  nocturno, 

Huzza  for  the  jolly  old  moon! 

"  Her  chorister  is  Goodman  Frog1, 
With  a  glow-worm  for  his  link; 
And  all  who  wrould  make  court  to  her, 
Are  fain,  good  faith!  to  drink. 

Sing,  Hie  and  hoc  sumus  nocturno, 

Huzza  for  the  jolly  old  moon!" 

This  ditty  was  scarcely  concluded — for  it  was 
spun  out  with  several  noisy  repetitions  of  the  chorus 
— before  the  troop  reined  up  at  the  gate  of  the  Fort. 


156  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

The  drowsy  sentinel  undid  the  bolt  at  the  Captain's 
summons,  and,  in  a  very  short  space,  the  wearied 
adventurers  were  stretched  in  the  enjoyment  of  that 
most  satisfactory  of  physical  comforts,  the  deep  sleep 
of  tired  men. 


ROT?  OF  THE  BOWL.  157 


CHAPTER  XII. 


There  remains 

A  rugged  trunk,  cUsmewiber'd.  and  unsightly, 
Waiting  the  bursting  of  the  final  bolt 
To  splinter  it  to  shivers. 

THE  DOOM  OF  DKVOHGOII.. 


THE  shore  of  the  Chesapeake  between  Cape  St. 
Michael — as  the  northern  headland  at  the  mouth  of 
Potomac  was  denominated  by  the  early  settlers — 
and  the  Patuxcnt,  is  generally  flat,  and  distinguished 
by  a  clear  pebbly  beach  or  strand.  The  shore,  com 
prising  about  twenty  miles,  is  intersected  by  a  single 
creek,  that  of  St.  Jerome,  which  enters  the  bay  some 
five  or  six  miles  north  of  the  Potomac.  The  line  of 
beach,  which  I  have  referred  to,  is  here  and  there 
relieved  by  small  elevations  which  in  any  other  re 
gion  would  scarce  deserve  the  name,  but  which  are 
sufficiently  prominent  in  this  locality  to  attract  re 
mark.  From  the  general  level  of  the  country  they 
rise  high  enough  to  afford  a  clear  prospect  over  the 
wide  waters,  and  no  less  to  distinguish  the  landward 

VOL.  I.— 14 


158  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

perspective  to  the  manner  whose  eye  eagerly  seeks 
the  varieties  of  landscape  as  he  holds  his  course  up 
the  bay.  At  a  few  points  these  small  hills  terminate 
immediately  upon  the  tide  in  the  abrupt  form  of  a 
cliff,  and,  at  others,  take  the  shape  of  a  knoll  sink 
ing  away  by  a  rapid,  but  grass-covered,  declivity  to 
the  strand.  This  latter  feature  is  observable  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Jerome's,  where  the  slope  falls  some 
what  abruptly  to  the  level  of  the  tide,  leaving  some 
thing  above  fifty  paces  in  width  of  low  ground  be 
tween  its  base  and  the  ordinary  water-mark.  It  was 
upon  this  flat  that,  in  ancient  times,  stood  the  dwell 
ing  house  of  Paul  Kelpy  the  fisherman — a  long,  low 
building  of  deal  boards,  constructed  somewhat  in 
the  shape  of  a  warehouse  or  magazine.  Some  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  along  the  beach,  so  sheltered  under  the 
brow  of  the  slope  as  scarcely  to  be  seen  amongst  the 
natural  shrubbery  that  shaded  it,  stood  a  cottage  or 
hut  of  very  humble  pretensions.  It  was  so  low  that 
a  man  of  ordinary  height,  while  standing  at  the  door, 
might  lay  his  hand  upon  the  eaves  of  the  roof,  and 
correspondent  to  its  elevation,  it  was  so  scanty  in 
space  as  to  afford  but  two  apartments,  of  which  the 
largest  was  not  above  ten  feet  square.  It  was 
strongly  built  of  hewn  logs,  and  the  door,  strength 
ened  by  nails  thickly  studded  over  its  surface,  was 
further  fortified  by  a  heavy  padlock,  which  rendered 
it  sufficiently  impregnable  against  a  sharper  assault 
than  might  be  counted  on  from  such  as  ordinarily 
should  find  motive  to  molest  the  proprietor  of  such  a 
dwelling. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  159 

A  small  enclosure  surrounded  the  hut  and  furnish 
ed  ground  for  some  common  garden  plants  which 
were  not  neglected  in  their  culture.  A  few  acres, 
on  the  higher  plain  above  the  bank,  exhibited  signs 
of  husbandry;  and  the  small  nets  and  other  fishing 
tackle  disposed  about  the  curtilage,  together  with  a 
skiff  drawn  up  on  the  sand,  gave  evidence  of  the 
ostensible  thrift  by  which  the  occupant  of  the  hut 
obtained  a  livelihood. 

To  this  spot  I  propose  to  introduce  my  reader,  the 
day  preceding  that  at  which  my  story  has  been 
opened.  It  was  about  an  hour  before  sunset,  and  a 
light  drizzling  rain,  with  a  steady  wind  from  the 
north-east,  infused  a  chilly  gloom  into  the  air,  and 
heightened  the  tone  of  solitude  which  prevailed  over 
the  scene.  A  thin  curl  of  smoke  which  rose  from 
the  clumsy  chimney  of  the  hut  gave  a  sign  of  habi 
tation  to  the  premises,  and  this  was  further  confirmed 
by  the  presence  of  a  large  and  cross-visaged  mastiff- 
bitch,  whose  heavy  head  might  be  discerned  thrust 
forth  from  beneath  the  sill  of  the  gable, — a  sullen 
warder  of  this  sullen  place  of  strength.  The  waves, 
now  propelled  upon  a  flood  tide,  rolled  in  upon  the 
shore,  and  broke  almost  at  the  door  of  the  hut,  with 
a  hoarse  and  harsh  and  ceaseless  plash.  Far  out 
over  the  bay,  the  white  caps  of  the  wind-driven 
surge  floated  like  changing  snow  drifts  upon  the 
surface  of  the  waters.  The  water  fowl  rose  in 
squadrons  above  this  murky  waste  and  struggled  to 
windward,  in  a  flight  so  low  as  frequently  to  shield 
them  from  the  sight  in  the  spray.  An  old  bald  eagle 


160  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

perched  on  the  loftiest  branch  of  a  lightning-riven 
tree,  immediately  upon  the  bank  above  the  hut,  kept 
anxious  watch  upon  her  nest  which,  built  in  the 
highest  fork,  rocked  to  and  fro  in  the  breeze,  whilst 
her  screams  of  warning  to  her  young  seemed  to  an 
swer  to  the  din  of  the  waters. 

In  the  larger  apartment  of  the  hut  a  few  fagots 
blazed  upon  the  hearth,  supplying  heat  to  a  pot 
that  simmered  above  them,  the  care  of  which, 
together  with  other  culinary  operations,  engaged  the 
attention  of  a  brown,  haggard  and  weather-beaten 
woman,  who  plied  this  household  duty  with  a  silent 
and  mechanical  thrift.  She  was  not  the  only  tenant 
of  the  dwelling.  Remote  from  the  hearth,  and  im 
mediately  below  a  small  window,  sat,  apparently 
upon  the  floor,  a  figure  eminently  calculated  to  chal 
lenge  observation.  His  features  were  those  of  a 
man  of  seventy,  sharp,  shrewd  and  imprinted  with 
a  deep  trace  of  care.  His  frame  indicated  the  pos 
session,  at  an  earlier  period  of  his  life,  of  the  highest 
degree  of  strength ;  it  was  broad  in  the  shoulders, 
ample  in  chest,  and  still  muscular,  although  deprived 
of  its  roundness  by  age.  His  dress,  of  coarse  green 
serge,  made  into  a  doublet  with  skirts  that  fell  both 
front  and  rear,  secured  by  a  leathern  belt,  was  so 
contrived  as  to  conceal,  in  his  present  posture,  his 
lower  extremities.  A  broad  rufF  received  his  locks 
of  iron  gray,  which  fell  over  his  back  in  crisp  wiry 
curls  :  a  thick  grizzly  beard,  of  the  same  hue,  gave 
an  elongation  to  his  countenance  which  imparted  to 
the  observer  the  unpleasant  impression  of  a  head 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  101 

disproportionably  large  for  the  body,  at  least  as  seen 
in  its  present  aspect.  His  eyes  dark  and  unusually 
clear,  were  sunk  deep  in  their  sockets,  whilst  a 
shaggy  and  matted  brow,  overhanging  them  like  a 
porch,  gave  sometimes  an  almost  preternatural  bril 
liancy  to  their  quick  and  changeful  glances — like  the 
sparkling  of  water  when  agitated  in  a  well.  It  was 
observable  from  the  dropping  in  of  the  upper  jaw 
that  he  had  lost  his  teeth,  and  this  perhaps  had  given 
a  tendency  of  the  strong  furrowed  lines  and  seams, 
with  which  his  features  were  marked,  to  converge 
towards  the  mouth. 

His  girdle  sustained  a  long  knife  or  dagger,  which 
apparently  constituted  a  part  of  his  daily  equipment; 
and  the  oblique  flash  of  his  eye,  and  tremulous  mo 
tion  of  his  thin  lip  betrayed  a  temperament,  from 
which  one  might  infer  that  this  weapon  of  offence 
was  not  worn  merely  as  an  ornament  of  the  person. 

The  individual  described  in  this  summary  was 
familiar  to  report,  throughout  the  province,  as  The 
Cripple.  His  true  name  was  supposed  to  be  Robert 
Swale, — but  this  was  almost  lost  in  the  pervading  po 
pular  designation  of  Rob  of  the  Bowl,  or  Trencher 
Rob — an  appellative  which  he  had  borne  ever  since 
his  arrival  in  the  province,  now  some  fifteen  years 
gone  by.  Of  his  history  but  little  was  known,  and 
that  little  was  duly  mystified,  in  the  public  repute, 
by  the  common  tendency  in  the  vulgar  mind  to  make 
the  most  of  any  circumstance  of  suspicion.  The 
story  went  that  he  had  been  shipwrecked,  on  a  win 
ter  voyage,  upon  this  coast,  and,  after  suffering  in- 
14* 


162  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

credible  hardships,  had  saved  his  lite  only  at  the 
expense  of  the  loss  of  both  legs  by  frost.  In  this 
maimed  condition  he  had  reached  the  shore  of  the 
province,  and  some  time  afterwards  built  the  hut  in 
•which  he  now  dwelt,  near  the  mouth  of  St.  Jerome's. 
Here  he  had  passed  many  years,  without  attracting 
other  notice  than  such  as  the  stinted  charily  of  the 
world  affords,  when  it  is  exercised  upon  the  fate  or 
fortunes  of  an  obscure  recluse.  This  observation 
began  to  find  a  broader  scope  as  soon  as  it  became 
obvious  that  the  hermit  was  not  altogether  an  object 
of  almsgiving;  and  the  little  world  of  this  part  of 
the  province  discovering  in  process  of  time  that  he 
was  not  absolutely  penniless,  were  fain  to  take  of 
fence  at  the  mystery  of  his  means  of  earning  his 
frugal  subsistence.  Before  many  years,  some  few 
of  .the  traders  and  country  people  round  had 'found 
out  that  Rob  was  occasionally  possessed  of  good 
merchantable  commodities  much  in  request  by  the 
inhabitants  of  the  port,  and  dark  whispers  were 
sometimes  circulated  touching  the  manner  in  which 
lie  came  by  them.  These  surmises  were  not  made 
topics  of  public  discussion  for  two  reasons  ; — first, 
because  it  was  not  inconvenient  or  unprofitable  to 
the  traders  in  the  secret  to  deal  with  Rob ; — and 
secondly,  Rob  was  not  a  man  to  allow  this  indul 
gence  of  idle  speculation  ;  he  was  of  an  irascible 
temper,  free  to  strike  when  crossed,  and,  what  was 
still  more  to  be  feared,  had  friends  who  were  not 
unwilling  to  take  up  his  quarrel.  The  loss  of  his 
legs  was  supplied  by  a  wooden  bowl  or  trencher,  of 


ROB  OF  THE  BO\VL.  163 

an  elliptical  shape,  to  which  his  thighs  were  attach 
ed  by  a  strap,  and  this  rude  contrivance  was  swayed 
forward,  when  the  owner  chose,  by  the  aid  of  two 
short  crutches,  which  enabled  him  to  lift  himself 
from  the  ground  and  assume  a  progressive  motion. 
It  was  to  the  exercise  which  this  mode  of  locomo 
tion  imposed  upon  his  upper  limbs,  that  the  unusual 
breadth  and  squareness  of  his  figure  about  the  shoul 
ders,  as  well  as  the  visible  manifestations  of  strength 
of  arm  for  which  he  was  remarkable,  were  in  part, 
perhaps,  to  be  attributed.  Use  had  made  him  expert 
in  the  management  of  his  bowl,  and  he  could  keep 
pace  pretty  fairly  with  an  ordinary  walker.  The 
Cripple  was  a  man  of  unsocial  habits  and  ascetic 
life,  although  there  were  times  in  which  his  severe 
temper  relaxed  into  an  approach  to  companionable 
enjoyment,  and  then  his  intercourse  with  the  few 
who  had  access  to  him  was  marked  by  a  sarcastic 
humour  and  keen  ridicule  of  human  action  which 
showed  some  grudge  against  the  world,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  denoted  conversancy  with  mankind,  and 
by  no  means  a  deficiency  of  education.  But,  in 
general,  his  vein  was  peevish,  and  apt  to  vent  itself 
in  indiscriminate  petulance  or  stern  reproof. 

A  small  painting  of  St.  Romuald  at  his  devotions, 
by  the  hand  of  Salvator  himself,  hung  over  a  dress 
ing  table,  in  the  back  room  of  the  hut  in  which  the 
bed  of  the  Cripple  was  placed ;  and  this  exquisite 
gem  of  art,  which  the  possessor  seemed  duly  to  ap 
preciate,  was  surmounted  by  a  crucifix,  indicating 
the  religious  faith  in  which  he  worshipped.  This 


164  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

might  be  gathered  also  from  a  curious,  antique  pix, 
of  heavy  gilded  metal,  a  ponderous  missal  with  silver 
clasps,  a  few  old  volumes  of  the  lives  of  the  saints, 
and  other  furniture  of  the  like  nature,  all  of  which 
denoted  that  the  ingredient  of  a  religious  devotee 
formed  an  element  in  his  singular  compound  of  cha 
racter. 

The  superiority  of  his  mind  and  attainments  over 
those  of  the  mass  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  province 
had  contributed  to  render  the  Cripple  an  object  of 
some  interest  as  well  as  of  distrust  amongst  them, 
and  this  sentiment  was  heightened  into  one  approach 
ing  to  vulgar  awe,  by  the  reputation  of  the  person 
who  had  always  been  somewhat  in  his  confidence, 
and  now  attended  him  as  his  servitress  and  only  do 
mestic.  This  person  was  the  ungainly  and  repulsive 
beldam  whom  I  have  already  noticed  as  ministering 
in  the  household  concerns  of  the  hut.  She  was  a 
woman  who  had  long  maintained  a  most  unenviable 
fame  as  The  Woman  of  Warrington,  in  the  small 
hamlet  of  that  name  on  the  Cliffs  of  Patuxent,  from 
whence  she  had  been  recently  transplanted  to  per 
form  the  domestic  drudgery  in  which  we  have  found 
her.  Her  habitation  was  a  rude  hovel  some  few 
hundred  paces  distant  from  the  hut  of  the  Cripple, 
on  the  margin  of  St.  Jerome's  creek,  and  within 
gunshot  of  the  rear  of  the  Black  Chapel.  To  this 
hovel,  after  her  daily  work  was  done,  she  retired  to 
pass  the  night,  leaving  her  master  or  patron  to  that 
solitude  which  he  seemed  to  prefer  to  any  society. 
The  surly  mastiff-bitch,  we  have  noticed,  alternately 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  165 

kept  guard  at  the  hut  of  the  master  and  domestic, — 
roving  between  the  two  in  nightly  patrol,  with  a 
gruffand  unsocial  fidelity, — no  unsuitable  go-between 
to  so  strange  a  pair.  It  will  not  be  wondered  at,  that, 
in  a  superstitious  age,  such  an  association  as  that  of 
the  Cripple  and  the  crone,  in  the  vicinity  of  such  a 
spot,  desecrated,  as  the  Fisherman's  lodge  had  been, 
by  the  acting  of  a  horrible  tragedy,  should  excite, 
far  and  wide  amongst  the  people,  a  sentiment  of 
terror  sufficiently  potent  to  turn  the  steps  of  the 
wayfarer,  as  the  shades  of  evening  fell  around  him, 
aside  from  the  path  that  led  to  St.  Jerome's. 

The  Cripple,  at  the  time  when  I  have  chosen  to 
present  him  to  my  reader,  was  seated,  as  I  have  said, 
immediately  beneath  the  window.  A  pair  of  spec 
tacles  assisted  his  vision  as  he  perused  a  pacquet  of 
papers,  several  of  which  lay  scattered  around  him. 
The  dim  light  for  a  while  perplexed  his  labour,  and 
he  had  directed  the  door  to  be  thrown  wide  open 
that  he  might  take  advantage  of  the  last  moment  be 
fore  the  approaching  twilight  should  arrest  his  occu 
pation.  Whilst  thus  employed,  the  deadened  sound 
of  a  shot  boomed  across  the  bay. 

"  Ha  !"  he  exclaimed  as  he  threw  aside  the  paper 
in  his  hand  and  directed  his  eyes  towards  the  water; 
"  there  is  a  signal — by  my  body,  a  signal  gun ! — an 
ill  bird  is  flying  homeward.  Did  you  not  hear  that 
shot,  woman  ?" 

"  I  had  my  dream  of  the  brigantine  two  nights 
ago,"  replied  the  servitress ;  "  and  of  the  greedy 


166  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

kite  that  calls  himself  her  master ; — the  shot  must  be 
his." 

"  Whose  can  it  be  else  ?"  demanded  the  Cripple 
sharply,  as  he  swung  himself  forward  to  the  door- 
sill  and  shook  his  locks  from  his  brow  in  the  act  of 
straining  his  sight  across  the  dim  surface  of  the  bay. 
"Ay,  ay;  there  it  is.  Hark — another  shot! — that 
is  the  true  pass  word  between  us: — Dickon,  sure 
enough ! — The  brigantine  is  in  the  offing.  Cockles- 
craft  is  coming  in  with  the  speed  of  a  gull.  He 
comes  full  freighted — full  freighted,  as  is  his  wont, 
with  the  world's  plunder.  What  dole  hath  he  done 
this  flight  ? — what  more  wealthy  knave  than  himself 
hath  he  robbed?  Mischief,  mischief,  mischief — good 
store  of  it,  I'll  be  sworn: — and  a  keener  knave  than 
himself  he  hath  not  found  in  his  wide  venture.  He 
will  be  coming  ashore  to  visit  the  Cripple,  ha ! — he 
shall  be  welcome — as  he  ever  hath  been.  We  are 
comrades, — we  are  cronies,  and  merry  in  our  divi 
sions — the  Skipper  and  the  Cripple ! — there  is  concord 
in  it — the  Skipper  and  the  Cripple — merry  men 
both !" 

These  uprisings  of  the  inner  thoughts  of  the  man 
were  uttered  in  various  tones — one  moment  scarce 
audible,  the  next  with  an  emphatic  enunciation,  as  if 
addressed  to  his  companion  in  the  hut, — and  some 
times  with  the  semblance  of  a  laugh,  or  rather 
chuckle,  which  was  wormwood  in  its  accent,  and 
brought  the  rheum  from  his  eye  down  his  cheek. 
The  beldam,  accustomed  to  this  habit  of  self-com 
munion  in  the  Cripple,  apparently  heeded  not  these 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  167 

mutterings,  until  he,  at  length,  accosted  her  with  a 
command. — "  Mistress  Kate,  double  the  contents  of 
your  pot ; — the  skipper  and  some  of  his  men  will  be 
here  presently,  as  keen  and  trenchant  as  their  own 
cutlasses.  They  will  be  hungry,  woman, — as  these 
saltwater  monsters  always  are  for  earthy  proven 
der." 

"  Such  sharp-set  cattle  should  bring  their  proven 
der  with  them,"  replied  the  domestic,  as  she  went 
about  increasing  her  store  of  provision  in  compliance 
with  her  master's  directions. 

"Or  the  good  red  gold,  or  the  good  red  gold,  old 
jade  !"  interrupted  the  Cripple.  "  The  skipper  doth 
not  shrink  in  the  girdle  from  the  disease  of  a  lean 
purse,  and  is  therefore  worthy  of  our  worshipful  en 
tertainment.  So  goes  the  world,  and  we  will  be  in 
the  fashion  !  Though  the  world's  malisons  drive  him 
hither  as  before  a  tempest,  yet,  comes  he  rich  in  its 
gear:  he  shall  have  princely  reception.  I  am  king  of 
this  castle,  and  ordain  it.  Is  he  taking  in  sail? — is  he 
seeking  an  anchorage?  Ha,  he  understands  his  craft, 
and  will  be  with  us  anon,"  he  continued,  as  he  mark 
ed  the  movements  of  the  approaching  vessel. 

There  might  be  dimly  seen,  nearly  abreast  of  St. 
Jerome's,  a  close-reefed  brig,  holding  her  course  be 
fore  a  fair  wind  directly  across  the  bay  towards  the 
hut  of  the  Cripple.  She  was,  at  intervals,  lost  to 
view  behind  the  thickening  haze,  and  as  often  re-ap 
peared  as  she  bent  under  the  fresh  north-east  breeze 
and  bounded  rapidly  with  the  waves  towards  the  lee 
shore.  It  was  after  the  hour  of  sunset  when  the 


168  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

tenants  of  the  hut  were  just  able  to  discern,  in  the 
murky  gloom  of  the  near  nightfall,  that  she  had  low 
ered  sail  and  swung  round  with  her  head  seaward,  at 
an  anchorage  some  two  miles  out  in  the  bay. 

"Quick,  Mistress  Kate,  and  kindle  some  brush 
wood  on  the  shore,"  said  the  master  of  the  hut.  "  It 
grows  suddenly  dark,  and  the  boat's  crew  will  need 
a  signal  to  steer  by." 

The  woman  gathered  a  handful  of  fagots,  and, 
kindling  them  into  a  blaze,  transferred  them  to  the 
beach  in  front  of  the  hut,  where,  notwithstanding  the 
rain,  they  burned  with  a  steady  light.  This  illumina 
tion  had  not  subsided  before  the  stroke  of  oars  rose 
above  the  din  of  the  waves;  and  the  boat  with  her 
crew,  sheeted  with  the  broad  glare  of  the  signal-fire, 
suddenly  appeared  mounted  on  the  surf,  surrounded 
with  foam  and  spray,  and  in  the  same  instant  was 
heard  grating  on  the  gravel  of  the  beach. 

Cocklescraft,  with  two  seamen,  entered  the  hut. 
The  skipper  was  now  in  the  prime  of  youthful  man 
hood  ;  tall,  active  and  strong,  with  the  free  step  and 
erect  bearing  that  no  less  denoted  the  fearlessness  of 
his  nature  than  pride  in  the  consciousness  of  such  a 
quality.  His  face,  tinged  with  a  deep  brown  hue, 
was  not  unhandsome,  although  an  expression  of  sen 
suality,  to  some  extent,  deprived  it  of  its  claim  to  be 
admired.  A  brilliant  eye  suffered  the  same  dispa 
ragement  by  its  over-ready  defiance,  which  told  of  a 
temper  obtrusively  prone  to  quarrel.  The  whole  phy 
siognomy  wanted  gentleness,  although  a  fine  set  of 
teeth,  a  regular  profile,  and  a  complexion  which,  with 

' 


ROB  OF  THB  BOWL.  169 

proper  allowance  for  exposure  to  the  weather,  was 
uncommonly  good,  would  unquestionably  have  won 
from  the  majority  of  observers  the  repute  of  a  high 
degree  of  masculine  beauty. 

A  scarlet  jacket  fitted  close  across  the  breast,  wide 
breeches  of  ash-coloured  stuff,  hanging  in  the  fashion 
of  a  kirtle  or  kilt  to  the  knees,  tight  grey  hose,  accu 
rately  displaying  the  leg  in  all  its  fine  proportions, 
and  light  shoes,  furnished  a  costume  well  adapted  to 
the  lithe  and  sinewy  figure  of  the  wearer.  A  jet 
black  and  glossy  moustache,  and  tuft  below  the  ne 
ther  lip,  gave  a  martial  aspect  to  his  face,  which  had, 
nevertheless,  the  smoothness  of  skin  of  a  boy.  He 
wore  in  his  embroidered  belt,  a  pair  of  pistols  richly 
mounted  with  chased  silver  and  costly  jewels,  and  his 
person  was  somewhat  gorgeously  and,  in  his  present 
occupation,  inappropriately  ornamented  with  gems 
and  chains  of  gold.  His  hair,  in  almost  feminine 
luxuriance,  descended  in  ringlets  upon  his  neck.  A 
large  hat  made  of  the  palm  leaf,  broad  enough  to 
shade  his  face  and  shoulders,  but  ill  sorted  with  the 
rest  of  his  apparel,  and  was  still  less  adapted  to  the 
season  and  the  latitude  he  was  in,  though  it  threw 
into  the  general  expression  of  his  figure  that  trait  of 
the  swaggering  companion  which  was,  in  fact,  some 
what  prominent  in  his  character. 

"How  dost,  friend  Rob?"  was  his  salutation  in 
crossing  the  threshold ;  "  how  dost,  Rob  o'  the  Bowl, 
or  Rob  o'  the  Trencher  ? — bowl  or  trencher, — either 
likes  me;  I  am  sworn  friend  to  both,"  he  continued 
as  he  stooped  and  took  the  Cripple's  hand. 

VOL.  I.— 15 


*>• 

»  -  - 

l~:"f'  :>v? ' 

170  ROB  OP  THE  BOWL. 

"Ay,  thy  conscience  has  never  stayed  thee,"  was 
the  Cripple's  reply,  as  he  received  the  skipper's  grasp, 
"  when  thou  wouldst  put  thy  hand  in  another  man's 
bowl  or  trencher, — and  especially,  Dickon,  if  they 
were  made  of  gold.  Thou  hast  an  appetite  for  such 
dishes.  How  now  !  where  do  you  come  from  ?" 

"  That  shall  be  answered  variously,  friend  of  the 
wooden  platter.  If  you  speak  to  me  as  Meinherr 
Von  Cogglescraft,  I  am  from  Antwerp,  master  of  the 
Olive  Branch,  with  a  comfortable  cargo  of  Hol 
lands,  and  wines  French  and  Rhenish,  old  greybeard, 
and  some  solid  articles  of  Dutch  bulk.  But  if  it  be 
to  the  Caballero  Don  Ricardo, — le  beso  las  manos ! 
— I  am  from  Tortuga  and  the  Keys,  Senor  Capi- 
tan  del  Escalfador  (there  is  much  virtue  in  a  painted 
cloth)  with  a  choice  assortment  of  knicknackeries, 
which  shall  set  every  wench  in  the  province  agog.  I 
have  rare  velvets  of  Genoa,  piled  and  cut  in  the 
choicest  fashions :  I  have  grograms,  and  stuffs,  and 
sarsnets,  with  a  whole  inventory  of  woman  trumpery 
— the  very  pick  of  a  Spanish  bark,  bound  from  Naples 
to  the  islands,  which  was  so  foolish  as  to  read  my  flag 
by  its  seeming,  and  just  to  drop  into  the  Chafing-Dish 
when  he  thought  he  was  getting  a  convoy  to  help  him 
out  of  the  way  of  the  too  pressing  and  inquisitive 
courtesies  of  certain  lurking  friends  of  our's  in  the 
Keys.  I  have,  besides,  some  trinkets,  which  are  none 
the  worse  for  having  been  blessed  by  the  church. 
You  shall  have  a  choice,  Rob,  to  deck  out  your 
chamber  with  some  saintly  gems." 

"  Ha !  I  guessed  thy  deviltry,  Dickon,"  said  Rob, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  171 

with  a  laugh  which,  as  always  happened  when  much 
moved,  brought  tears  down  his  cheeks — "  I  guessed 
it  when  I  saw  thee  step  across  the  door-sill  with  that 
large  and  suspicious  sombrero  on  thy  head.  It  never 
came  from  Holland — though  you  would  fain  persuade 
the  province  folks  that  you  trade  no  where  else:  it 
is  of  the  breed  of  the  tropics,  and  smells  of  Hispaniola 
and  Santo  Domingo." 

"  It  is  a  tell-tale,"  replied  Cocklescraft,  "  and  should 
have  been  thrown  overboard  before  this.  Old  Kate 
of  Warrington,  thy  hand — and  here  is  a  hand  for 
thee !  How  does  the  world  use  thee  ?  Fairly,  I 
hope,  as  you  deserve  ?  You  shall  have  the  sombrero, 
Kate :  you  can  truss  it  up  into  a  new  fashion  for  a 
bonnet,  and  I  have  store  of  ribands  to  give  thee  to 
set  it  off." 

"  My  share  of  this  world's  favour,"  said  the  crone, 
in  acknowledgment  of  the  skipper's  bounty,  "  has 
never  been  more  than  the  cast-off  bravery  of  such  as 
hold  a  high  head  over  a  wicked  heart.  I  have  ever 
served  at  the  mess  of  the  devil's  bantlings.  But,  as 
the  custom  is,  I  must  be  civil  and  thankful  for  these 
blessings ;  and  so,  Master  Cocklescraft,  I  give  you 
thanks,"  she  added  with  a  courtesy,  as  she  placed 
the  hat  upon  her  head  and  strutted  fantastically  in 
the  room,  "  for  your  dainty  head-gear  that  you  are 
unwilling  to  wear,  and  durst  not,  master,  before  the 
Port  Wardens  of  St.  Mary's." 

"How,  Kate!"  exclaimed  the  skipper,  "you  have 
lost  no  whit  of  that  railing  tongue  I  left  with  you  at 
my  last  venture  ?  I  marvel  that  the  devil  hath  not 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

shorn  it,  out  of  pure  envy.  But  I  know,  Kate,  you 
can  do  justice  to  the  good  will  of  a  friend,  after  all : 
I  would  have  thee  to  know  that  thou  hast  not  been 
unconsidered,  good  mother  of  a  thousand  devilkins : 
I  have  brought  thee  stuff  for  a  new  gown,  rich  and 
ladylike,  Kate,  and  becoming  thy  grave  and  matronly 
years,  and  sundry  trickeries  for  it,  by  way  of  garni 
ture  ;  and,  reverend  dam  of  night-monsters,  I  have 
in  store  for  thee  some  most  choice  distillations  of  the 
West  Indies,  both  plain  and  spiced.  Thou  dost  not 
spurn  the  strong  waters,  Kate  of  Warrington, — nor 
the  giver  of  them  ?" 

"  This  is  a  make-peace  fashion  of  thine,"  said  the 
beldam,  relaxing  into  a  smile.  "  You  thought  not  of 
the  woman  of  Warrington — no,  not  so  much  as  a 
dog's  dream  of  her — until  it  chanced  to  come  into 
your  head  that  the  foolish  crone  had  a  will  which  it 
might  not  be  for  your  good  to  set  against  you.  I 
knew  your  incoming,  Richard  Cocklescraft,  before  it 
was  thought  of  in  the  province ;  and  I  know  when 
your  outgoing  will  be.  You  come  with  a  surly  sky 
and  a  gay  brow ; — you  shall  trip  it  hence  with  a 
bright  heaven  above  you,  and  deftly,  boy — but  with 
a  heavy  heart  and  a  new  crime  upon  thy  soul." 

"  Peace,  woman !  I  will  hear  none  of  thy  croak- 
ings — it  is  an  old  trick  of  thine;  the  device  is  too 
stale,"  said  Cocklescraft,  half  playfully  and  half  vexed. 
"  You  are  no  conjuror,  Kate,  as  you  would  make  the 
world  believe  by  these  owl-hootings :  if  you  had  but 
a  needle's-eyeful  of  the  true  witch  in  you,  you  would 
have  foretold  what  bounty  my  luck  has  brought  you. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  173 

— Rob,  we  have  packages  to  land  to-night.  Is  the 
Chapel  ready  for  our  service  ?" 

"How  should  it  be  other  than  ready?  Doth  not 
the  devil  keep  his  quarters  there  ?"  said  Rob  with  a 
low-toned  chuckle  that  shook  his  figure  for  some  mo 
ments,  and  almost  closed  his  eyes ;  "  hath  he  not  his 
court  in  the  Chapel?  Go  ask  the  whole  country  side  : 
they  will  swear  to  it  on  their  bible  oaths.  Sundries  have 
seen  the  hoofs  and  horns,  and  heard  the  howlings, — 
ay,  and  smelt  the  brimstone — ha,  ha,  ha !  They'll 
swear  to  it.  Is  the  Chapel  ready,  in  sooth  !  It  is  a 
precious  Chapel !  Paul  Kelpy,  thou  wert  an  honest 
cut-throat,  to  bedevil  so  good  a  house:  we  turn  it  to 
account — ha,  ha!  It  needs  but  to  take  the  key, 
Dickon.  I  warrant  you  ne'er  a  man  in  the  province, 
burgher  or  planter,  gentle  or  simple,  ventures  near 
enough  to  molest  you." 

"  The  surf  runs  high,"  said  Cocklescraft,  "and  may 
give  us  trouble  in  the  landing  to-night ;  and  as  day 
light  must  not  find  me  in  this  latitude,  I  shall  put 
what  I  may  ashore  before  the  dawn,  and  then  take  a 
flight  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  bay.  To-morrow 
night  I  shall  finish  my  work;  and  you  shall  soon 
after  hear,  at  St.  Mary's,  that  the  good  and  peaceful 
brigantine,  the  Olive  Branch,  has  arrived  from  Hol 
land.  Meantime,  I  will  leave  you  a  half  dozen  men 
to  garrison  the  Chapel,  Rob." 

"  It  is  so  well  garrisoned  with  my  merry  goblins 
already,"  said  Rob,  "  that  it  requires  but  a  light 
watch.  The  fires  alone  would  frighten  his  Lordship's 
whole  array  of  rangers.  That  was  a  pretty  device 

15* 


174  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

of  mine,  Dickon— blue,  green,  and  red — excellent 
devil-fires  all !  Then  I  have  masks — faith,  most  spe 
cial  masks !  the  very  noses  of  them  would  frighten 
the  short-winded  train-bands  of  the  Port  into  cata 
lepsy.  And  the  Chapel  had  an  ill  name  when  the 
fisherman  shed  blood  on  the  floor:  but  since  we 
blackened  it,  Richard — oh,  that  was  a  subtle  thought! 
— it  is  past  all  power  of  exorcism :  there  is  an  ague 
in  the  very  name  of  the  Black  Chapel."  And  here 
the  Cripple  gave  way  to  a  burst  of  laughter,  which 
had  been  struggling  for  vent  during  all  this  reference 
to  the  arts  by  which  he  had  contrived  to  maintain  the 
popular  dread  of  the  fisherman's  lodge. 

Whilst  this  conference  was  held,  the  crone  had 
prepare'd  their  evening  meal,  which  being  now  ready, 
Rob  was  lifted  upon  a  low  platform  that  brought  him 
to  the  proper  level  with  the  table,  where  he  was  able 
to  help  himself.  Cocklescraft  partook  with  him,  and 
might  almost  have  envied  the  keen  gust  and  ravenous 
appetite  with  which  his  host  despatched  the  coarse 
but  savoury  fare  of  the  board — for  the  Cripple's 
power  of  stomach  seemed  to  be  no  whit  impaired  by 
age.  He  continued  to  talk,  during  his  meal,  in  the 
same  strain  which  we  have  described,  now  indulging 
a  peevish  self-communion,  now  bursting  forth  with 
some  sarcastic  objurgation  of  the  world,  and  again 
breaking  a  jest  with  his  visiter. 

When  the  seamen,  under  the  ministration  of  the 
aged  domestic,  had  got  their  supper,  Cocklescraft 
took  his  departure. 

All  night  long  lights  were  gleaming  in  the  Cha- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  175 

pel ;  the  rain  continued  in  a  steady  misty  drizzle, 
and  not  a  slar  was  seen  to  tempt  a  wanderer  abroad. 
The  morning,  which  broke  upon  an  atmosphere 
purged  of  its  vapours,  showed  no  trace  of  the  brig 
in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Jerome's.  Far  down  the  bay, 
hugging  the  eastern  shore,  might  have  been  discern 
ed  what  a  practised  mariner  would  affirm  to  be  a 
sail ;  but  whether  ship  or  brig — whether  outward  or 
homeward  bound,  might  not  be  told  without  the  aid 
of  a  glass. 


176  ROB  OF  THE  BOWF,. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


Up  she  rose,  and  forth  she  goes, — 
I'll  mote  she  speed  therefor. 

ADAM  BELL. 


Bell,  my  wife,  she  loves  not  strife, 

Yet  she  will  lead  me  if  she  can  ; 

And  oft,  to  live  a  quiet  life, 

I'm  forced  to  yield,  though  I'm  goodman. 

It's  not  for  a  man  a  woman  to  threape, 

Unless  he  first  give  o'er  his  plea  : 

As  we  began  we  now  will  leave 

And  I'll* take  my  old  cloak  about  me.  ^ 

OLD  SONG. 


IT  was  nine  o'clock  of  the  morning  before  Daun- 
trees  and  his  companions,  Garret  and  Arnold,  rose 
from  their  beds.  Pamesack,  whose  taciturnity  was 
not  greater  than  his  indifference  to  fatigue,  had,  at 
an  earlier  hour,  gone  his  way.  A  breakfast  was 
provided  in  the  Captain's  quarters,  and  the  three 
heroes  of  the  past  night  sat  down  to  it  with  a  relish 
which  showed  that,  however  unfit  they  might  be  to 
contend  against  spiritual  foes,  their  talents  for  this 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  177 

encounter  of  material  existences  were  highly  respec 
table. 

"  You  have  had  a  busy  time  of  it  in  dreams,  Master 
Weasel,"  said  Dauntrees,  since  you  laid  yourself 
down  on  your  truckle  bed  this  morning.  You  have 
been  re-acting  your  exploits  at  the  Chapel.  I  heard 
you  at  daylight  crying  aloud  for  sword  and  dagger." 

"  I  warrant  you,  Captain  Dauntrees,"  replied  the 
publican,  "  my  head  has  been  full  of  fantasies  since  I 
laid  me  down  to  rest — for  I  was  exceeding  weary — 
and  weariness  doth  set  the  brain  to  ramble  in  sleep. 
There  was  good  argument,  too,  in  our  deeds  at  St. 
Jerome's  for  a  world  of  dreaming." 

"  Ah,  the  night  has  made  a  man  of  you,  my  gal 
lant  vintner.  You  should  bless  your  stars  that  you 
fell  into  such  worthy  company.  You  knew  not  here 
tofore — even  with  your  experience  at  Worcester — 
what  elements  of  valour  it  pleased  Heaven  to  mix  up 
in  the  mould  whereof  thou  wert  made.  A  man  never 
sufficiently  values  himself  until  he  has  had  some  such 
passage  as  this." 

"Ay,  and  look  you,  Captain  Dauntrees,"  said 
Garret,  his  eye  flashing  with  self-gratulation,  "  you 
will  reflect  that  I  had  the  brunt  of  it  alone,  whilst 
you  three  were  banded  together  for  common  defence 
and  support.  There  I  was,  by  my  single  self,  in  the 
very  centre  of  them.  A  man  needs  more  comfort 
and  companionship  in  a  matter  with  witches  and 
devils,  than  he  does  against  your  sword  and  buckler 
fellows.  Tut !  I  wouldn't  have  cared  a  fig  for  a  foe 
that  could  be  struck  at;  but  these  pestilent  things  of 


178  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

the  dark — hags  on  besoms,  and  flying  bats  as  big  as 
a  man,  great  sword-fishes  walking  on  legs,  with  their 
screechings,  and  mopings,  and  mewings — Lord,  Lord, 
how  it  tries  the  reins  of  a  solitary  man  !  But  you  had 
flashing  and  firing,  and  charging,  Captain,  which  is 
more  in  the  way  of  what  one  expects  in  a  fight,  and 
one  is  prepared  for :  it  has  life  in  it." 

"  That  is  most  true,  doughty  Garret.  A  culverin 
is  but  the  whiff  of  an  oaten  pipe,  compared  with  a 
hag  upon  her  broomstick.  Thou  wert  ever  the  man 
to  encounter  these  women.  It  needs  thy  mettle  to 
face  them.  Now  there  is  thy  wife,  Master  Weasel — 
oh,  but  that  is  a  perilous  venture  in  store  for  thee ! 
You  shall  go  to  her  and  have  it  over,  whilst  I  make 
my  report  to  his  Lordship ;  when  that  is  done  I  will 
straight  for  the  Crow  arid  Archer,  to  help  you  in  the 
battle,  which  by  that  time  will  doubtless  find  you  sore 
at  need." 

"I  must  go  to  his  Lordship  with  you,"  replied 
Garret,  in  a  lowered  key ;  "  I  must  have  my  hand  in 
the  report ;  after  that  we  will  set  out  together  for 
the  inn." 

"  Why,  man !"  exclaimed  Dauntrees,  with  affected 
astonishment,  "  would  you  tarry  to  do  your  duty  to 
Mistress  Dorothy  ?  Do  you  not  know  that  she  hath 
suffered  agony  of  mind  the  live-long  night  in  your 
behalf,  and  that  she  is  now  in  the  very  tempest  of  her 
affection  waiting  for  you  ?" 

"  I  know  it,  I  know  it,  worthy  Captain ;  but  it  doth 
not  become  my  respect  for  Lord  Charles's  service  to 
defer  his  business  for  mine  own." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  179 

"  Thou  shalt  not  budge  an  inch,"  said  Dauntrees, 
"  on  any  other  path  than  that  which  takes  thee  quickly 
to  thy  loving  wife." 

"  Truly,  Captain,"  replied  Weasel,  in  a  dolorous 
tone,  "I  would  have  thee  to  go  with  me;  I  beseech 
you  heartily,  allow  me  to  bear  you  company  to  his 
Lordship.  His  Lordship  will  think  it  strange  I  did 
not  come :  and  it  will  take  more  than  me  to  pacify 
the  dame." 

"  Well,  friend  Weasel,  in  consideration  that  you 
contended  single  handed  last  night  with  a  whole  score 
of  devils,  and  bore  thee  gallantly;  and,  moreover,  as 
it  is  such  heavy  odds  against  thee  in  this  matter  of 
Dame  Dorothy — for,  of  a  verity,  I  know  she  is  in  a 
devil  of  a  passion  at  thy  contumacy,  and  not  less  at 
mine,  I'll  be  sworn — why  we  will  make  a  muster  of  it 
and  breathe  our  defence  in  solid  column.  Arnold 
will  go  with  us.  And  mark  me,  Vintner,  at  the  fit 
ting  time,  we  shall  regale." 

"  On  the  best  in  cellar  or  larder  at  the  Crow  and 
Archer,"  replied  Garret.  "  You  have  the  word  of  a 
man  and  a  soldier  for  it." 

"  I  wot  of  a  woman  and  no  soldier,  whose  word 
would  go  further  to  that  bargain,  Garret,  than  yours. 
Make  ready,  friends,  we  must  move." 

Dauntrees  now  set  his  beaver  jauntily  over  his 
brow,  and  throwing  his  short  cloak  across  his  arm, 
marched  through  the  postern  of  the  fort,  followed  by 
his  trusty  allies,  to  the  mansion  of  the  Lord  Proprietor. 

Lord  Baltimore  received  them  in  his  library,  and 
there  heard  from  the  Captain  a  circumstantial  nar 
rative  of  the  events  of  the  preceding  night. 


180  ROB  OP  THE  BOWL. 

"  It  is  a  strange  tale,"  he  said,  "  and  may  well  per 
plex  the  faith  of  the  simple  rustics  of  the  province. 
That  evil  spirits  preside  over  that  blood-stained  house, 
from  your  testimony,  Captain  Dauntrees,  may  no 
longer  be  denied.  Friends,  you  all  saw  these  things  ?" 

"  All,"  said  Garret  Weasel,  with  emphatic  solem 
nity  as  he  straitened  his  body  even  beyond  the  per 
pendicular  line.  "Pamesack  and  Arnold  stood  by 
the  Captain  and  can  vouch  for  him.  I  maintained 
a  post  of  danger,  an  please  your  Lordship,  alone ; 
what  I  saw  neither  the  Captain,  Arnold,  nor  Pame 
sack,  saw — it  was  a  fearful  sight." 

"What  was  it?"  inquired  the  Proprietary,  with 
some  earnestness. 

"  A  woman,"  replied  Garret,  "  seemingly  a  woman, 
an  your  Lordship  comprehends:  but  in  truth  a  witch, 
as  we  all  do  know : — Kate  of  Warrington,  of  whom 
your  Lordship  has  heard.  She  it  was  who  came  sud 
denly  down  upon  the  wold.  How  she  came,"  here 
Garret  shook  his  head,  "  and  what  came  with  her, — 
it  was  a  sight  to  look  upon !" 

"  The  vintner  affirms  to  sundry  fantastic  shapes  of 
imps  and  spectres  in  company  with  the  woman  of 
Warrington,"  said  Dauntrees.  "  We  saw  nothing  of 
the  hag,  having  left  Master  Weasel,  some  distance  in 
our  rear  when  we  visited  the  Chapel.  He  was  cold, 
and  required  comfort.  What  he  recounts,  my  Lord, 
you  have  his  own  avouch  for." 

"  Arid  what  say  you,  Arnold?"  inquired  his  Lord 
ship,  smiling. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  181 

"  These  ghosis  and  goblins  keep  a  hot  house,  and 
the  less  we  have  to  do  with  them  the  better,"  replied 
the  forester,  gravely. 

"  They  fired  upon  you,  Captain?"  said  the  Pro 
prietary  ;  "  with  what  weapons  1" 

11  They  had  the  sharp  crack  of  the  musket  and 
pistol,  replied  Dauntrees,  "  or  what  seemed  to  be  such : 
yet  I  would  not  swear  I  saw  carnal  weapons  in  the 
strife,  though  in  the  flash  I  thought  I  noted  fire  arms. 
This  may  tell  better  than  guess  of  mine,  my  Lord," 
he  added,  as  he  held  up  his  cloak  and  pointed  to  a 
rent  in  one  of  its  folds  ;  "  this  hole  was  made  by  some 
missive  from  the  house :  whether  it  be  a  bullet  mark 
or  an  elf-shot,  I  will  not  say." 

"  Body  o*  me  !"  exclaimed  Garret  Weasel,  as  the 
Captain  pointed  to  the  damage  he  had  sustained,  "  I 
knew  not  this  before.  There  was  hot  work,  I  war 
rant." 

"  There  is  knavery  in  alliance  with  this  sorcery," 
said  the  Proprietary,  as  he  examined  the  cloak. 
"  These  wicked  spirits  ever  find  kindred  amongst 
men.  They  have  profligate  companions  of  flesh  to 
profit  by  their  devilish  arts.  I  thank  you,  friends, 
kindly,  for  this  venture,  and  will  turn  it  to  wholesome 
account  hereafter.  Fare  you  well." 

The  party  left  the  room,  and  now  shaping  their 
course  towards  the  Crow  and  Archer,  soon  descend 
ed  below  the  bank  and  took  the  road  along  the  beach. 

Whilst  they  trudged  through  the  sand  and  gravel, 
midway  between  the  fort  and  the  town,  Dauntrees, 
looking  behind,  saw  a  figure  descending  on  horse- 

VOL.  I.— 16 


182  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

back  from  the  main  gate  of  the  fort  down  to  the  road 
upon  which  they  now  travelled.  It  was  that  of  a 
woman,  whose  gestures,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile, 
were  sufficiently  observable  to  show  that  she  urged 
her  horse  forward  with  impatient  earnestness.  As 
soon  as  she  arrived  at  the  level  of  the  beach,  her 
speed  was  increased  nearly  to  the  utmost  of  the  fa 
culty  of  the  animal  which  bore  her,  and  she  now 
came  flying  over  the  sand,  with  her  garments  and 
loose  tresses  floating  in  the  wind. 

"  In  the  devil's  name,  what  have  we  here  ?"  ex 
claimed  Dauntrees.  "  As  I  live,  it  is  our  queen  of  the 
hostel !  Oh,  Garret,  Garret,  here  is  a  volcano !  Here 
is-  an  out-come  with  a  conclusion  at  hand !  Stand, 
masters,  firmly  on  your  legs,  and  brace  up  for  the 
onset !" 

"Alack,  alack!"  groaned  the  publican;  "the  wo 
man  is  bereft.  She  hath  my  nag  from  the  fort." 

"Ay,  and  rides  upon  your  saddle,  as  if  it  were 
made  for  her,"  ejaculated  the  Captain.  "  Take  post 
behind  me,  Garret :  I  will  answer  her  speech." 

"  It  were  no  more  *than  the  luck  she  deserves," 
said  Garret,  pettishly,  "  if  she  should  fall  from  the 
nag  and  break  her  little  finger,  or  at  the  least  sprain 
an  ancle-joint." 

"  Hold,  runagates !  varlets !  out  upon  you  for  a 
filthy  Captain !"  shouted  the  dame,  in  a  shrill  voice, 
as  she  came  within  call  of  the  party,  and  now  gallop 
ed  up  to  the  spot  at  which  they  had  halted.  "  Give 
me  that  idiot  from  your  beastly  company.  Garret 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  183 

Weasel,  Garret  Weasel!  you  have  been  the  death  of 
rne !" 

"  Good  lack,  Mistress  Dorothy,  wife,  why  dost  thou 
bear  thyself  in  such  a  sort  as  this?" 

"  I  will  bare  thee  to  the  buff,  driveller,  for  this. 
Are  you  not  steeped  in  wickedness  and  abomination 
by  evil-consorting  with  this  copper  Captain,  and  this 
most  horrid  wood  ranger?  Hast  no  eye  for  thy 
family ;  no  regard  for  good  name,  that  you  must  be 
strolling  o'  nights  with  every  pot-guzzler  and  foul- 
breathed  and  cankered  cast-off  of  the  wars  ?  I  am 
ashamed  of  thee.  You  have  been  in  your  cups,  I 
warrant,  the  live-long  night." 

"  Dame,  I  must  speak,  now,"  said  Dauntrees. 

"Thou,  thou!"  interrupted  the  hostess,  with  her 
face  scarlet  from  anger.  "  Never  in  a  Christian 
land  should  st>ch  as  thou  be  permitted  to  lift  thy  head 
before  honest  people.  His  Lordship  would  do  but 
justice  to  the  province  to  chain  thee  up  in  a  dark 
stable,  as  a  bull  which  may  not  be  trusted  at  large. 
Did  you  not  beguile  me  last  night  with  a  base  lie  ? 
Did  you  not  practice  upon  me,  you  faithless,  false 
hearted  coward  ?"  here  tears  fell  from  the  flashing 
eyes  of  the  voluble  landlady.  "  Did  you  not  steal 
that  lob,  my  husband,  from  me,  thief?" 

"  Appearances,  dame,"  replied  the  Captain,  with  a 
grave  composure,  "  if  they  might  be  trusted,  were 
certainly  to  my  disfavour  last  night.  But  then,  I 
knew  that  when  this  matter  was  all  over,  I  had  a  most 
sufficient  and  excellent  reason,  which  a  considerate, 
virtuous,  and  tender-hearted  woman  like  yourself 


• 

184  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

would  fully  approve,  when  she  came  to  hear  it. 
There  was  matter  in  hand  of  great  import  and 
urgency;  no  revelling,  dame — no  riot — but  brave  ser 
vice,  enjoined  by  his  Lordship,  and  which  it  was  his 
Lordship's  most  earnest  desire  should  be  committed 
in  part  to  thy  husband.  It  was  an  action  of  pith  and 
bravery  he  had  on  hand  ;  and  his  Lordship  being  well 
aware,  dame,  that  Garret's  wife  was  a  woman  of  a 
loving  heart,  and  gentle  withal  in  her  nature,  and  not 
fitted  to  endure  the  wringing  of  her  affection  by  such 
a  trial  as  the  adventure  imposed  upon  Garret,  he 
charged  me  to  make  some  light  pretext  for  withdraw 
ing  thy  husband  from  thine  eye,  which,  by  fraud,  I 
confess,  I  did,  and  am  now — since  Garret  hath 
worthily  achieved  his  most  perilous  duty — here  to 
avow  my  own  treachery.  There  is  promotion  and 
great  advantage  at  hand  for  this  whidh  will  set  up 
thy  head,  dame,  the  highest  amongst  them  that  wear 
hoods." 

"  We  have  barely  escaped  with  our  lives,  Mistress 
Dorothy,"  said  Weasel,  in  a  whining  accent  of  depre 
cation  ;  "  we  should  be  made  much  of  and  praised  for 
our  duty,  not  be  set  upon  with  taunts  and  foul  re 
bukes  ;  and  when  you  know  all,  wife,  you  will  be 
sorry  for  this  wounding  of  our  good  name." 

"This  is  but  another  trick,"  said  the  landlady. 

"  Nay,  good  mistress,"  interrupted  the  Captain,  "  I 
will  agree  to  be  gibbeted  by  thine  own  fair  hand,  if 
I  do  not  satisfy  thee  that  in  this  adventure  we  are  de 
serving  of  all  applause.  The  Lieutenant  at  the  fort, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  185 

doubtless,  told  thee  that  we  were  absent  last  night  on 
special  duty  at  his  Lordship's  command?" 

"  The  varlet  did  feign  such  a  story,  when  I  thought 
to  catch  this  fool  in  thy  company.  And  he  would 
deny  me,  too,  the  nag ;  but  I  brought  such  coil  about 
his  ears  that  he  was  glad  to  give  me  the  beast  and  set 
all  gates  open.  Where  do  you  say  you  have  spent 
the  night?" 

"  At  the  Black  Chapel,  mistress,"  said  Weasel,  with 
a  most  portentous  solemnity  of  speech  :  "  at  the  Black 
Chapel,  by  his  Lordship's  order ;  and,  oh,  the  sights 
we  have  seen !  and  the  time  we  have  had  of  it,  wife  ! 
it  would  make  thy  blood  freeze  to  hear  it." 

"  On  the  honour  of  a  soldier,  dame !  by  the  faith 
of  this  right  hand!"  said  Dauntrees,  as  he  offered  it 
to  the  hostess  and  took  her's,  "  I  swear  this  is  true. 
We  have  had  a  night  of  wonders,  which  you  shall 
hear  in  full  when  the  time  suits.  We  are  on  our  way 
now  to  the  Crow  and  Archer,  for  thine  especial  gra 
tification." 

"Can  this  be  true,  Arnold?"  inquired  the  mollified 
and  bewildered  landlady.  "  I  will  believe  what  you 
say." 

"  You  may  trust  in  every  word  of  it,  as  I  am  a 
Christian  man.  There  be  marvellous  doings  at  the 
Black  Chapel.  We  have  seen  spirits  and  devils  in 
company." 

"It  is  graver  matter,  wife,  than  you  wot  of,"  said 
Weasel. 

"Ride  forward,  dame,"  added  Dauntrees;  "you 
shall  see  us  soon  at  the  hostel.  Arid  I  promise  you 
16* 


186  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

shall  have  the  story,  too,  of  the  Mercer's  Wife  from 
beginning  to  end  :  you  shall  dame." 

"  You  are  a  wheedling,  cogging  cheat,  Captain ; 
thy  roguery  will  have  a  melancholy  end  yet,"  replied 
the  dame,  as  she  now  rode  forward  with  a  sunshiny 
smile  playing  upon  features  which  but  a  few  moments 
before  were  dark  with  storm. 

When  they  reached  the  Crow  and  Archer  they 
found  a  group  of  traders  assembled  on  the  quay,  gaz 
ing  with  a  busy  speculation  towards  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  By  degrees  the  crowd  increased,  and 
the  rumour  soon  spread  abroad  that  the  Olive 
Branch  was  in  sight.  A  vessel  was,  indeed,  dis 
cernible  across  the  long  flat  of  St.  Inigoe's,  just  enter 
ing  the  river,  and  those  who  professed  a  knowledge 
of  nautical  affairs  had  no  scruple  in  announcing  her 
as  the  brigantine  of  Cocklescraft.  She  was  appa 
rently  an  active  craft,  belonging  to  the  smaller  class 
of  sea-vessels,  and  manifestly  a  faster  sailer  than  was 
ordinarily  to  be  seen  at  that  period.  A  fair  and 
fresh  breeze  impelled  her  steadily  towards  her  haven, 
and  as  she  bounded  over  the  glittering  waters,  the 
good  folks  of  the  little  city  were  seen  clustering  in 
knots  on  every  prominent  cliff  along  the  high  bank, 
and  counting  the  minutes  which  brought  this  messen 
ger  from  the  old  world  nearer  to  their  salutation. 

Meantime  the  Olive  Branch  began  to  show  the 
sparkling  foam  which  broke  upon  her  bow ;  then  to 
give  forth  voices  from  her  deck,  audible  to  the  crowd; 
presently  to  lower  sail ;  and  at  last,  being  stripped  to 
her  bare  poles  and  naked  rigging,  she  glided  with 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  187 

lessening  speed,  slower  and  slower,  until  her  extend 
ed  cable  showed  that  her  anchor  was  dropt  and  her 
voyage  at  an  end. 

It  was  past  noon  when  the  brig  came  to  her  moor 
ing,  opposite  the  Town  House  wharf,  and  after  a 
brief  interval,  Cocklescraft,  arrayed  as  we  have  be 
fore  seen  him,  except  that  he  had  changed  his  som 
brero  for  a  tasseled  cap  of  cloth,  landed  on  the  quay, 
and  soon  became  the  lion  of  the  Crow  and  Archer. 


188  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Every  white  will  have  its  black, 
And  every  sweet  its  sour. 

OLD  BALLAD. 


THE  birth-day  festival  at  the  Rose  Croft  might  be 
said  appropriately  to  belong  to  the  eminent  dominion 
of  the  Lady  Maria.  It  thereftn-e  lacked  nothing  of 
her  zealous  supervision.  With  the  aid  of  father 
Pierre  and  some  female  auxiliaries  she  had  persuaded 
the  Collector — a  task  of  no  great  difficulty — to  sanc 
tion  the  proceeding,  and  she  was  now  intent  upon 
the  due  ordering  and  setting  out  of  the  preparations. 
The  day  was  still  a  week  off  when,  early  after  break 
fast,  on  a  pleasant  morning  the  business-fraught  lady 
was  seen  in  the  hall,  arrayed  in  riding  hood  and 
mantle,  ready  to  mount  a  quiet  black-and-white  pony 
that,  in  the  charge  of  a  groom,  awaited  her  pleasure 
at  the  door.  Natta,  the  little  Indian  girl,  stood  by 
entrusted  with  the  care  of  a  work-bag  or  wallet  ap 
parently  well  stuffed  with  the  materials  for  future 
occupation, — the  parcel-fragments  which  thrifty 
housewives  and  idleness-hating  dames,  down  to  this 
day,  are  accustomed  to  carry  with  them,  for  the 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  189 

sake  of  the  appearance,  at  least,  of  industry.  Just 
at  this  moment  the  Proprietary  came  into  the  hall, 
and  seeing  that  his  worthy  sister  was  bound  on  some 
enterprise  of  more  than  usual  earnestness,  he  added 
to  his  customary  morning  salutation  a  playful  inquiry 
into  the  purport  of  her  excursion. 

"  Ah,  Charles,"  she  replied,  "  there  are  doings  in 
the  province  which  are  above  the  rule  of  your  bur 
gesses  and  councils.  I  hold  a  convocation  at  the 
Rose  Croft  to-day,  touching  matters  more  earnest 
than  your  state  affairs.  We  have  a  merry-making 
in  the  wind,  and  I  am  looked  to  both  for  countenance 
and  advice.  It  is  my  prerogative,  brother,  to  be 
mistress  of  all  revels." 

"  God  bless  thine  age,  Maria !"  was  the  affection 
ate  reply  of  the  Proprietary — "  it  wears  a  pleasant 
verdure  and  betokens  a  life  of  innocent  thoughts  and 
kind  actions.  May  the  saints  bear  thee  gently  on 
ward  to  thy  rest !  Come,  I  will  serve  as  your  cava 
lier,  and  help  you  to  your  horse,  sister. — See  now, 
my  arm  has  pith  in  it.  Hither,  Natta — there  is  the 
wench  on  the  pillion — who  could  serve  thee  with  a 
better  grace  than  that?" 

"  Thanks — thanks,  good  brother  !"  ejaculated  the 
lady  as  the  Proprietary  lifted  her  to  her  seat,  and 
then  swung  the  Indian  girl  upon  the  pillion  behind 
her.  "  Your  arm  is  a  valiant  arm,  and  is  blessed  by 
more  than  one  in  this  province.  It  has  ever  been 
stretched  forth  in  acts  of  charity  and  protection." 

"  Nay,  Maria,  you  are  too  old  to  flatter.  Fie  !  I 
have  no  advancement  to  offer  thee.  In  truth  thou 


190  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

art  sovereign  here — though  you  go  through  your 
realm  with  but  scant  attendance  for  one  so  magni 
fied.  Why  is  not  Albert  in  your  train?  I  may  well 
spare  him — as  he  has  a  liking  for  such  service." 

"Brother,  I  would  not  tax  the  Secretary.  He 
hath  a  free  foot  for  his  own  pleasure ;  and,  methinks, 
he  finds  his  way  to  the  Rose  Croft  easily  enough 
without  my  teaching.  It  is  an  ancient  caution  of 
mine,  in  such  affairs,  neither  to  mar  nor  make." 

"  Heaven  help  thee  for  a  considerate  spinster !" 
said  the  Proprietary  with  a  benignant  smile  as  he 
raised  his  hands  and  shook  them  sportively  towards 
his  sister.  "  Go  thy  ways,  with  thy  whimsies  and 
thy  scruples ; — and  a  blessing  on  them  !  I  wish 
yours  were  our  only  cares  : — but  go  thy  ways,  girl!" 
he  added,  as  the  lady  set  forth  on  her  journey,  and 
he  withdrew  from  the  door. 

At  the  Rose  Croft,  the  approaching  merry-making 
had  superseded  all  other  family  topics,  both  in  parlour 
and  kitchen.  The  larder  was  already  beginning  to 
exhibit  the  plentiful  accumulations  which,  in  a  place 
of  strength,  might  portend  a  siege  :  the  stable  boys 
were  ever  on  the  alert,  with  their  cavalry,  to  do 
rapid  errands  to  the  town,  and  Michael  Mossbank, 
the  gardener,  was  seen  in  frequent  and  earnest  con 
sultation  with  John  Pouch,  a  river-side  cotter,  touch 
ing  supplies  of  fish  and  wild  fowl. 

Whilst  the  elder  sister  Alice  despatched  the  graver 
duties  of  the  housekeeping,  she  had  consigned  to 
Blanche  the  not  less  important  care  of  summoning 
the  guests,  and  the  maiden  was  now  seated  at  the 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  191 

table  with  pen  in  hand  registering  the  names  of  those 
who  had  been,  or  were  to  be  invited  to  the  feast, — 
or  in  other  words  making  a  census  of  pretty  nearly 
the  whole  titheable  population  of  St.  Mary's  and  its 
dependencies. 

"  A  plague  upon  it  for  a  weary  labour !"  she  ex 
claimed  as  she  threw  down  the  pen  and  rested  her 
chin  upon  the  palm  of  her  hand.  "  I  know  I  shall 
forget  somebody  I  ought  not  to  forget — and  shall  be 
well  rated  for  it.  And  then  again  I  shall  be  chid  for 
being  too  free  with  my  fellowship. — What  a  world  ol 
names  is  here  !  I  did  not  think  the  whole  province 
had  so  many.  There  is  Winnefred  Hay,  the  View 
er's  sister, — they  have  tales  about  her  which,  if  they 
be  true,  it  is  not  fit  she  should  be  a  crony  of  mine — 
and  yet  I  don't  believe  them,  though  many  do. — 
Truly  the  Viewer  will  be  in  a  grand  passion  if  I 
slight  her  !  Sister  Alice,  give  me  your  advice." 

"  Bid  her  to  the  feast,  Blanche.  We  should  be 
slow  to  believe  these  rumours  to  the  injury  of  a 
neighbour.  Winnefred  Hay,  is  not  over  discreet — 
and  gives  more  semblance  to  an  evil  opinion  than,  in 
truth,  her  faults  deserve:  but  the  townspeople  are 
scarce  better  in  this  quickness  to  censure — especially 
such  as  look  to  the  tobacco  viewing.  Lawrence 
Hay's  place  has  something  to  do  with  that  scandal." 

"I  am  glad,  sister  Alice,  you  give  me  an  ar 
gument  to  indulge  my  own  secret  wish,"  replied 
Blanche ;  "  for  I  like  not  to  believe  harsh  reports 
against  any  of  our  province.  And  so,  that  is  at  an 
end.  Alack  ! — here  is  another  matter  for  counsel : 


192  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

Grace  Blackiston  says  Helen  Clements  is  too  young 
to  be  al  my  gathering : — she  has  two  years  before 
her  yet  at  school,  and  has  only  begun  embroidering. 
Oh,  but  I  would  as  soon  do  a  barefoot  penance  for  a 
month  as  disappoint  her  ! — she  is  the  wildest  of  all 
for  a  dance,  and  looks  for  it,  I  know, — though  she 
says  never  a  word,  and  has  her  eyes  on  the  ground 
when  we  talk  about  it. — Ha,  let  Grace  Blackiston 
prate  as  she  will,  Helen  shall  be  here !  Fairly,  my 
gossip, — I  will  be  mistress  in  my  own  house,  I  pro 
mise  you  !" 

"  There  is  room  for  all  thy  friends,  young  and  old," 
said  Alice  ;  "  and  you  should  not  stint  to  ask  them 
for  the  difference  of  a  span  or  so  in  height.  You  are 
not  quite  a  woman  yourself,  Blanche, — no,  nor  Grace 
neither — although  you  perk  yourselves  up  so  dain 
tily." 

"  Would  you  have  the  gauger's  wife,  sister  ?"  in 
quired  Blanche,  with  a  face  of  renewed  perplexity. 
"  I  think  my  dear  Lady  Maria  would  be  pleased  if  I 
bid  the  dame — for  the  gauger  is  a  good  friend  of  his 
Lordship — hot-headed,  they  say,  but  that  does  not 
make  him  the  worse — and  his  dame  takes  it  kindly 
to  be  noticed." 

"Even  as  you  wili,  Blanche, — it  is  a  mark  of  gen 
tle  nurture  not  to  be  too  scrupulous  with  thy  ques 
tions  of  quality — a  kind  neighbour  will  never  disgrace 
your  courtesy.  But  one  thing,  child,  your  father  will 
look  to : — see  that  you  avoid  these  Coodes  and  Fen- 
dalls  and  even  the  Chiseldines.  There  is  a  feud  be 
tween  them  and  the  Proprietary, — and  my  Lord's 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  193 

friends  are  warm  in  the  matter, — your  father  amongst 
the  rest." 

"  I  warrant  you  they  get  no  bid  from  me,"  said 
Blanche,  as  the  colour  mantled  in  her  cheek.  "  I 
hate  them  stock  and  branch — yes,  as  my  good  ladv 
hates  them." 

Blanche  had  scarcely  uttered  these  words  before 
the  good  lady  herself  rode  past  the  window.  The 
maiden  bounded  forth  to  receive  her,  and  Alice  with 
less  precipitation  followed. 

"  I  come  with  pony  and  pillion,"  said  the  visiter 
as  she  was  assisted  to  the  ground,  and  bustled  into 
the  parlour.  "  I  could  not  rest  until  I  saw  Blanche, 
to  know  if  all  her  biddings  were  abroad.  My  pretty 
bird,  pray  look  you  to  your  task — you  have  no  time 
to  lose:  there  are  the  families  beyond  Patuxent — and 
our  friends  across  the  bay, — besides  many  at  home 
that  I  know  have  not  heard  from  you  yet.  And'here, 
sweet,  I  have  brought  you  some  trinketry  which  you 
shall  wear  at  the  feast :  a  part  is  for  Grace  Blackis- 
ton,  and  a  part  for  you.  Thou  shalt  have  the  choice, 
Blanche: — but  whisht! — not  a  word  of  it  to  Grace, 
because  I  think  she  hath  a  conceit  to  be  jealous  of 
thy  favour." 

Whilst  the  two  sisters  welcomed  the  lady  and  re 
sponded  to  her  voluble  communications  in  a  tone  of 
affectionate  intimacy,  the  contents  of  the  work-bag 
were  thrown  open  to  view,  and  successively  gave 
rise  to  sundry  discussions  relating  not  only  to  the 
objects  presented,  but  also  collaterally  to  the  thou 
sand  matters  of  detail  connected  with  the  festival, 

VOL.  L— 17 


194  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

thus  engrossing  the  first  hour  of  their  interview,  until 
the  subject  was  changed  by  an  exclamation  from 
Blanche,  as  she  looked  through  the  window  upon  the 
river — 

"  Oh,  but  here  is  a  gallant  sight ! — see  yonder 
hawk  following  a  heron.  He  will  strike  presently — 
the  heron  cannot  get  away.  Poor  bird !  how  he 
doubles  and  drops  in  his  flight  to  escape  the  swift 
hawk ; — but  it  is  of  no  avail.  I  should  almost  say  it 
was  sinful, — if  it  was  not  approved  and  followed  by 
those  I  love  best — I  should  hold  it  sinful  to  frighten 
and  torture  a  harmless  heron  by  such  pursuit.  There, 
the  hawk  has  struck,  and  down  comes  hawk  and 
quarry  to  the  water." 

"  It  is  his  Lordship's  hawk,"  said  the  Lady  Maria, 
as  she  looked  out  upon  the  river.  "  Derrick  the  fal 
coner  must  be  abroad  to-day  with  his  birds: — and 
now  whilst  I  speak,  there  he  is  walking  along  the 
beach.  And  he  is  not  alone  neither: — by  that  short 
mantle  and  that  feather,  Blanche,  you  may  know  a 
friend." 

The  colour  rose  on  the  maiden's  cheek  as  she  said, 
"  it  is  Albert,  his  Lordship's  secretary." 

"  His  eyes  are  turned  this  way,"  said  the  sister  of 
the  Proprietary.  "  A  wager  he  comes  to  the  house 
in  the  next  ten  minutes ! — He  would  fain  find  some 
business  with  the  Collector — I  know  Master  Albert's 
occasions:  nay,  do  not  flurry  thyself,  my  sweet 
Blanche." 

"I  wish  the  Secretary  would  come,"  returned  the 
maiden  ;  "  we  have  need  of  him  ;  he  promised  to 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  195 

show  me  how  1  were  best  to  arrange  my  flower 
vases." 

"  Then  thou  shouldst  do  well  to  despatch  a  mes 
senger  to  him,"  interrupted  the  Lady  Maria,  play 
fully  ;  "  dost  thou  not  think  he  might  forget  ?" 

"  Oh  no,  my  dear  lady,"  replied  Blanche,  "  Mas 
ter  Albert  never  forgets  a  promise  to  me." 

"  Indeed  !  Well,  I  should  have  thought  that  hav 
ing  occasion  to  make  you  so  many  promises — 'for  he 
is  here  at  the  Rose  Croft  thrice  a  week  at  least — and 
every  visit  has  its  promise,  or  I  mistake — he  would 
forget  full  one  half." 

"  I  deal  but  scantily  in  promises  with  the  Secre 
tary,"  replied  Blanche.  "  Master  Albert's  errands 
here  are  for  pastime  mostly." 

"  Ah,  he  doth  not  forget,"  exclaimed  the  Lady 
Maria ;  "  for  there  I  see  the  feather  of  his  bonnet  as 
he  climbs  up  the  bank, — and  now  we  have  his  head 
and  shoulders;  we  shall  get  the  whole  man  anon, — 
and  Master  Benedict  Leonard  in  the  bargain,  for  I 
see  him  trudging  in  the  Secretary's  footsteps,  as  he 
is  wont  to  do  ;  his  young  Lordship  hath  become  the 
Secretary's  shadow.  And  there  is  Derrick  behind. 
They  are  all  bound  for  this  haven." 

As  the  lady  spoke,  the  Secretary  was  seen  from 
the  window  with  the  heir  apparent  and  the  falconer 
on  the  verge  of  the  bank  which  they  had  just  as 
cended.  Benedict  Leonard  had  a  hooded  hawk  upon 
his  fist;  and  Derrick,  waving  a  light  rod  to  which 
a  small  streamer  or  flag  was  attached,  was  busy  in 
luring  down  the  bird  that  had  just  flown  at  the 


196  ROB  OF  THU  BOWL. 

heron.  Whilst  the  falconer  continued  his  occupa 
tion  the  Secretary  and  his  young  companion  entered 
the  mansion. 

Albert  Verheyden's  accost  to  the  ladies  was 
characterized  by  a  familiarity  not  unmixed  with 
diffidence,  and  a  momentary  flush  passed,  across 
his  cheek  as,  after  saluting  Mistress  Alice,  and  turn 
ing  to  Blanche,  his  eye  fell  upon  the  sister  of  the  Pro 
prietary.  "  I  did  not  expect  to  find  my  honoured 
lady  so  early  at  the  Rose  Croft,"  he  said  with  a 
profound  reverence.  "It  should  have  been  my  duty, 
madam,  to  attend  you,  but  I  knew  not  of  your  pur 
pose  ;  and  the  falconer  being  bent  to  fly  the  cast  of 
lanerets  which  Colonel  Talbot  lately  sent  to  my  Lord, 
would  have  me  witness  the  trial,  and  so  I  came  with 
Master  Benedict  to  see  this  sport." 

"Nay,  Albert,"  replied  the  lady,  "you  should  not 
have  been  of  my  company  even  if  you  had  sought 
permission.  I  come  to-day  on  no  idle  errand  which 
might  allow  your  loitering  paces  and  customary  de 
lays  to  gaze  on  headlands  and  meadows,  whereby 
you  are  wont  to  interrupt  the  course  of  your  jour 
ney.  The  matter  of  our  present  meeting  has  need  of 
stirring  feet,  which  go  direct  to  their  work, — yours 
are  not  such.  Still,  Master  Albert,  you  shall  not  be 
useless  to-day : — here  is  occupation  to  thy  hand  ; 
Blanche  is  in  much  want  of  a  penman,  and  as  you 
are  of  the  writing  craft,  she  would  gladly  enlist  thee 
in  her  service — that  is,  if  thou  hast  not  been  already 
marshaled  and  sworn  under  her  colours." 

"  Master  Albert,  our  dear  lady  does  but  jest,"  said 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  197 

Blanche.  "  She  knows  I  had  at  first  no  need  of 
better  penman  than  myself,  and  now  have  need  of 
none, — for,  in  truth,  my  work  was  finished  ere  she 
came.  But  your  service  I  may  command  in  a  better 
task.  You  did  promise  to  bring  me  some  device  for 
my  flower-stands." 

"  The  joiner  will  have  them  here  to-day,"  replied 
the  Secretary.  "  I  have  not  failed  to  spur  his  indus 
try  as  well  as  my  own  poor  invention  to  that  endea 
vour." 

"  Then  all  is  done  but  the  rendering  of  thanks," 
said  Blanche,  "  which  yet  I  am  not  in  the  humour  to 
do,  having  matter  of  quarrel  with  you  for  that  follow 
ing  of  the  poor  heron  which,  but  now,  we  saw  the 
hawk  strike  down,  whilst  you  were  a  looker-on,  and, 
as  we  suspect,  an  encourager  of  the  trespass.  It  was 
a  cruel  thing  to  assail  the  innocent  fowl,  which,  being 
native  here,  has  ever  found  friends  in  our  house; — 
yes,  and  has  daily  fed  upon  the  flat  below  the  garden. 
These  herons  scarce  fly  when  I  walk  by  them  on  the 
beach.  I  wish  the  falconer  had  sought  his  quarry 
elsewhere  than  amongst  my  harmless  birds.  You 
should  have  controlled  him." 

"  I  am  deeply  grieved,"  replied  the  Secretary.  "  In 
deed,  I  knew  not  of  the  bird  nor  whence  he  came : 
nor  thought  of  it,  in  truth.  A  feather  of  his  wing 
should  not  have  come  to  harm  had  I  been  aware  that 
he  had  ever  pleased  your  eye.  I  am  all  unskilled  in 
these  out-door  sports,  and  have  scarce  worn  out  the 
complexion  of  my  school  at  Antwerp,  where  worldly 
pastimes  were  a  forbidden  thought.  A  poor  scholar 


198  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL,. 

of  the  cloister  might  go  free  of  blame  if,  in  this  sunny 
and  gallant  world,  the  transport  of  a  noble  game 
should  rob  him  of  his  circumspection.  I  thought  of 
naught  but  the  glorious  circling  of  the  hawk  and  his 
swift  and  imperious  assault.  I  crave  your  pardon  for 
my  inconsiderate  error." 

"You  speak  more  like  a  practised  cavalier  than  a 
scholar  of  the  cloister,"  said  the  sister  of  the  Propri 
etary;  "thou  hast  a  cavalier's  love  of  the  sport, 
Albert." 

"  It  doth  not  beseem  me,  madam,"  was  the  Secre 
tary's  reply,  "  to  affect  a  pastime  which  belongs  nei 
ther  to  my  rank  nor  humble  means ;  but,  in  sadness, 
dear  lady,  I  do  love  hawk,  and  hound,  and  steed. 
And  when  in  my  sequestered  study — where,  being,  as 
I  thought,  destined  to  the  service  of  the  altar,  I  read 
mostly  of  holy  men  and  holy  things,  little  dreaming 
that  I  should  ever  see  the  world — it  sometimes 
chanced,  in  my  stray  reading,  I  fell  upon  a  lay 
wherein  deeds  of  chivalry  were  told  ;  and  then  I  was 
conscious  of  a  wish,  I  am  now  almost  ashamed  to 
confess,  that  fortune  might  some  day  bring  me  better 
acquainted  with  that  world  to  which  such  deeds  be 
longed.  Oh,  blessed  chance !  it  hath  befallen  now : 
that  is, — I  mean  to  say,"  continued  the  Secre 
tary,  checking  himself,  as  his  flashing  eye  fell  to  the 
floor,  and  a  blush  flitted  across  his  brow — "it  hath 
pleased  Heaven  to  give  me  a  kind  master  in  my  good 
Lord,  who  doth  not  deny  me  to  look  on  when  these 
sports  are  afield." 

"  And  if  we  did  strike  down  the  heron,  Blanche 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  109 

Warden,"  said  Benedict  Leonard,  saucily  accosting 
the  maiden,  and  showing  the  hawk  that  was  bound 
to  his  wrist — "  what  is  a  heron  good  for,  but  to  be 
brought  down?  Herons  were  made  for  hawks — yes, 
and  for  the  hawks  of  the  Proprietary  above  all 
others;  for  I  have  heard  say  that  every  heron  on  the 
Chesapeake,  within  my  father's  boundary,  is  his  own 
bird :  so  Derrick  has  said  a  hundred  times.  And 
there  's  my  uncle  Talbot,  who  flies  a  hawk  better 
than  any  other  in  the  province — I  do  ri't  care  if  Der 
rick  hears  me — and  has  the  best  mews, — he  says  that 
these  fire-arms  have  broken  up  hawking  in  the  old 
country ;  and  he  told  me  I  must  not  let  it  fall  through 
when  I  come  to  the  province;  for  my  father,  he 
thinks,  does  n't  care  much  for  it.  I  promise  you  in 
my  time  we  shall  have  hawking  enough — chide  as 
you  like,  Mistress  Blanche.  It  was  partly  for  me 
that  my  uncle  Talbot  sent  us  this  cast  of  birds.  Look 
at  that  laneret,  Blanche, — look  at  her !  Is  n't  that  a 
bird?  Talk  to  me  of  a  goshawk  after  that!" 

"  Benedict — nephew,"  interposed  the  Lady  Maria, 
"  why  dost  thou  fling  thy  bird  so  rudely  ?  She  brushes 
Blanche's  cheek  with  her  wing.  Pray,  not  so  bold : 
Blanche  will  not  like  thee  for  it." 

"  Blanche  will  never  quarrel  with  me  for  loving 
my  hawk,  aunt,"  replied  the  boy  playfully.  "  Will  you, 
mistress?  A  laneret's  wing  and  Blanche  Warden's 
cheek  are  both  accounted  beautiful  in  this  province, 
and  will  not  grow  angry  with  each  other  upon  ac 
quaintance." 

"  I  know  not  that,  Benedict,"  replied  the  maiden ; 


200  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  my  cheek  may  grow  jealous  of  your  praise  of  the 
wing,  and  mischief  might  follow.  She  is  but  a  savage 
bird,  and  hath  a  vicious  appetite." 

"  I  will  away  to  the  falconer,"  said  the  boy.  "  It 
is  but  wasting  good  things  to  talk  with  women  about 
hawks.  You  will  find  me,  Master  Albert,  along  the 
bank  with  Derrick,  if  you  have  need  of  me." 

"  That  boy  hath  more  of  the  Talbot  in  him  than 
the  Calvert,"  said  the  Lady  Maria,  after  he  had  left 
the  room.  "  His  father  was  ever  grave  from  youth 
upwards,  and  cared  but  little  for  these  exercises. 
Benedict  Leonard  lives  in  the  open  air,  and  has  a 
light  heart. — Thou  hast  a  book  under  thy  mantle, 
Master  Albert,"  continued  the  lady.  "  Is  your  bre 
viary  needful  when  you  go  forth  to  practise  a  lane- 
ret?" 

"  It  is  a  volume  I  have  brought  for  Mistress 
Blanche,"  replied  the  Secretary,  as,  with  some  evi 
dent  confusion,  he  produced  a  gilded  quarto  with 
clasps,  from  beneath  his  dress.  "  It  is  a  delightful 
history  of  a  brave  cavalier,  that  I  thought  would 
please  her." 

"Ah!"  exclaimed  the  sister  of  the  Proprietary, 
taking  the  book  and  reading  the  title-page — "  '  La 
ires  joyeuse  et  plaisante  Histoire,  composee  par  le 
Loyal  Servileur,  des  fails,  gestes  et  prouesses  du 
bon  Chevalier  sans  peur  et.  sans  reproche.''  Ay,  and  a 
right  pleasant  history  it  is,  this  of  the  good  Knight 
Bayard,  without  fear  and  without  reproach.  But, 
Albert,  thou  knowest  Blanche  doth  not  read  French." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  201 

"•I  designed  to  render  it  myself  to  Mistress  Blanche, 
in  her  native  tongue,"  replied  the  Secretary. 

"  Blanche,"  said  the  lady,  shaking  her  head,  "  this 
comes  of  not  taking  rny  counsel  to  learn  this  lan 
guage  of  chivalry  long  ago.  See  what  peril  you  will 
suffer  now  in  journeying  through  this  huge  book  alone 
with  Master  Albert." 

"  I  see  no  peril,"  replied  the  maiden,  unconscious 
of  the  raillery.  "Master  Albert  will  teach  me,  ere 
he  be  done,  to  read  French  for  myself." 

"  When  thou  hast  such  a  master,  and  the  Secretary 
such  a  pupil,"  said  the  lady,  smiling,  "Heaven  speed 
us  !  I  will  eat  all  the  French  thou  learnest  in  a  month. 
But,  Master  Albert,  if  Blanche  cannot  understand 
your  legend,  in  the  tongue  in  which  it  is  writ,  she  can 
fully  comprehend  your  music — and  so  can  we.  It  is 
parcel  of  your  duty  at  the  Rose  Croft  to  do  minstrel's 
service.  You  have  so  many  songs — and  I  saw  thee 
stealing  a  glance  at  yon  lute,  as  if  thou  wouldst  greet 
an  old  acquaintance." 

"  If  it  were  not  for  Master  Albert,"  said  Alice, 
"  Blanche's  lute  would  be  unstrung.  She  scarce  keeps 
it,  one  would  think,  but  for  the  Secretary's  occupa 
tion." 

"  Ah,  sister  Alice,  and  my  dear  lady,"  said  Blanche, 
"  the  Secretary  hath  such  a  touch  of  the  lute,  that  I 
but  shame  my  own  ears  to  play  upon  it,  after  hearing 
his  ditties.  Sing,  Master  Albert,  I  pray  you,"  she 
added,  as  she  presented  him  the  instrument. 

"  I  will  sing  to  the  best  of  my  skill,"  replied  Albert, 
"  which  has  been  magnified  beyond  my  deservings. 


202  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

With  your  leave,  I  will  try  a  canzonet  I  learned  in 
London.  It  was  much  liked  by  the  gallants  there, 
and  I  confess  a  favour  for  it  because  it  hath  a  stirring 
relish.  It  runs  thus : 


'  Tell  me  not,  sweet,  I  am  unkind, 

That  from  the  nunnery 
Of  thy  chaste  breast  and  quiet  mind 
To  war  and  arms  I  fly. 

'  True,  a  new  mistress,  now  I  chase, 

The  first  foe  in  the  field; 
And  with  a  stronger  faith  embrace 
A  sword,  a  horse,  a  shield. 

«  Yet  this  inconstancy  is  such 

As  you  too  shall  adore : 
I  could  not  love  thee,  dear,  so  much, 
-  Lov'd  I  not  honour  more.'  " 


"Well  done!  Well  touched  lute — well  trolled  dit 
ty  !  Brave  song  for  a  bird  of  thy  feather,  Master 
Verheyden  !"  exclaimed  the  Collector,  who,  when  the 
song  was  finished,  entered  the  room  with  Cockles- 
craft.  "  That 's  as  good  a  song,  Blaster  Cockles- 

scraft the  Skipper,  ladies — my  friend  of  the  Olive 

Branch,  who  has  been  with  me  this  hour  past  docket 
ing  his  cargo :  I  may  call  him  especially  your  friend 
— he  is  no  enemy  to  the  vanities  of  this  world.  Ha, 
Master  Cocklescraft,  thou  hast  wherewith  to  \vin  a 
world  of  grace  with  the  petticoats ! — thou  hast  an 
eye  for  the  trickery  of  the  sex!  Sit  down,  sir — I 
pray  you,  without  further  reverence,  sit  down." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  203 

The  Skipper,  during  this  introduction,  stood  near 
the  door,  bowing  to  the  company,  and  then  advanced 
into  the  room  with  a  careless  and  somewhat  over 
bold  step,  such  as  denotes  a  man  who,  in  the  endea 
vour  to  appear  at  his  ease  in  society,  carries  his  act 
ing  to  the  point  of  familiarity.  Still  his  freedom  was 
not  without  grace,  and  his  demeanour,  very  soon 
after  the  slight  perturbation  of  his  first  accost,  be 
came  natural  and  appropriate  to  his  character. 

"  Save  you,  madam,"  he  said,  addressing  the  sister 
of  the  Proprietary,  and  bowing  low,  "  and  you,  Mis 
tress  Alice,  and  you,  my  young  lady  of  the  Rose 
Croft.  It  is  a  twelvemonth  since  I  left  the  Port,  and 
I  am  right  glad  to  meet  the  worshipful  ladies  of  the 
province  once  again,  and  to  see  that  good  friends 
thrive.  The  salt  water  whets  a  sailor's  eye  for  friend 
ly  faces.  Mistress  Blanche,  I  would  take  upon  me 
to  say,  without  being  thought  too  free,  that  you  have 
grown  some  trifle  taller  than  before  I  sailed.  I  did 
not  then  think  you  could  be  bettered  in  figure." 

The  maiden  bowed  without  answering  the  Skip 
per's  compliment. 

"Richard  Cocklescraft,"  said  the  Collector,  "I 
know  not  if  you  ever  saw  Albert  Verheyden.  Had 
he  come  hither  before  you  sailed  ?  His  Lordship's 
secretary." 

"  I  was  not  so  lucky  as  to  fall  into  his  company," 
replied  Cocklescraft,  turning  towards  the  Secretary, 
and  eyeing  him  from  head  to  foot.  "  I  think  I  heard 
that  his  Lordship  brought  new  comers  with  him. 
We  shall  not  lack  acquaintance.  Your  hand,  Master 


204  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

Verdun — I  think  so  you  said?"  he  added,  as  he  look 
ed  inquiringly  at  the  Collector. 

The  Collector  again  pronounced  the  name  of  the 
Secretary  with  more  precision. 

"Nearly  the  same  thing,"  continued  the  Skipper. 
"  Master  Verheyden,  your  hand :  mine  is  something 
rougher,  but  it  shall  be  the  hand  of  a  comrade,  if 
thine  be  in  the  service  of  worshipful  Master  Anthony 
Warden,  the  good  Collector  of  St.  Mary's.  I  know 
how  to  value  a  friend,  Master  Secretary,  and  a 
friend's  friend.  You  have  a  rare  voice  for  a  ballad 
— I  pretend  to  have  an  opinion  in  such  matters — an 
excellent  voice  and  a  free  ringer  for  the  lute." 

"  I  am  flattered  by  your  liking  sir,"  returned  Albert 
Verheyden  coldly,  as  he  retired  towards  a  window, 
somewhat  repelled  by  the  too  freely  proffered  ac 
quaintance  of  the  Skipper,  and  the  rather  loud  voice 
and  obtrusive  manner  with  which  he  addressed  those 
around  him. 

"  Oh,  this  craft  of  singing  is  the  touchstone  of  gen 
tility  now-a-days,"  said  Cocklescraft,  twirling  his  vel 
vet  bonnet  by  the  gold  tassel  appended  to  the  crown. 
"A  man  is  accounted  unfurnished  who  has  no  skill 
in  that  joyous  art.  Sea-bred  as  I  am,  Collector — 
worshipful  Master  Warden — you  would  scarce  be 
lieve  me,  but  I  have  touched  lute  and  guitar  myself, 
and  passably  well.  I  learned  this  trick  in  Milan, 
whither  I  have  twice  gone  in  my  voyages,  and  dwelt 
there  with  these  Italians,  some  good  summer  months. 
That  is  your  climate  for  dark  eyes  and  bright  nights 
— balconies,  and  damsels  behind  the  lattice,  listening 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  205 

to  thrummers  and  singers  upon  the  pavements  below. 
And  upon  occasion,  we  wear  the  short  cloak  and 
dagger.  I  have  worn  cloak  and  stiletto  in  my  travels, 
Master  Collector,  and  trolled  a  catch  in  the  true 
tongue  of  Tuscany,  when  tuck  and  rapier  rung  in  the 
burden.  The  hot  blood  there  is  a  commodity  which 
the  breeze  from  the  Alps  hath  no  virtue  to  cool,  as  it 
doth  in  Switzerland." 

"  We  will  try  your  singing  craft  ere  it  be  long," 
replied  the  Collector.  "We  will  put  you  to  catch 
and  glee,  with  a  jig  to  the  heel  of  it,  Richard  Cockles- 
craft.  You  must  know,  Blanche  is  eighteen  on  the 
festival  of  St.  Therese,  and  we  have  a  junketing  for 
ward  which  has  set  the  whole  province  astir.  You 
shall  take  part  in  the  sport  with  the  town's-people, 
Master  Skipper;  and  I  warrant  you  find  no  rest  of 
limb  until  you  show  us  some  new  antics  of  the  fashion 
which  you  have  picked  up  abroad.  You  shall  dance 
and  sing  with  witnesses — or  a  good  leg  and  a  topping 
voice  shall  have  no  virtue!  I  pray  you  do  not  forget 
to  make  one  of  our  company  on  the  festival  of  St. 
Therese.  Your  gewgaws,  Richard,  and  woman's 
gear,  could  not  be  more  in  season :  every  wench  in 
the  port  is  like  to  be  your  debtor." 

"  Thanks,  Master  Collector,  I  have  a  foot  and 
voice,  ay,  and  hand,  ever  at  the  service  of  your  good 
company.  I  will  be  first  to  come  and  last  to  depart. 
— I  have  been  mindful  of  the  Rose  of  St.  Mary's  in 
my  voyaging,"  he  said  in  a  respectful  and  lower 
ed  tone,  as  he  approached  the  maiden.  "  Mistress 
Blanche  is  never  so  far  out  of  my  thoughts  that  I 

VOL.  L— 18 


206  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

might  come  back  to  the  Port  without  some  token 
for  her.  I  would  crave  your  acceptance  of  a 
pretty  mantle  of  crimson  silk  lined  with  minever.  I 
found  it  in  Dort,  and  being  taken  with  its  beauty, 
and  thinking  how  well  it  would  become  the  gay 
figure  of  my  pretty  mistress  of  the  Rose  Croft,  I 
brought  it  away,  and  now  make  bold  to  ask — that  is, 
if  it  be  agreeable  to  Mistress  Blanche,  and  if  I  do 
not  venture  too  far — that  I  may  be  allowed  to  bring 
it  hither." 

"  You  may  find  a  worthier  hand  for  such  a  fa 
vour,"  said  Blanche,  with  a  tone  and  look  that  some 
what  eagerly  repelled  the  proffered  gift,  and  mani 
fested  dislike  of  the  liberty  which  the  Skipper  had 
taken — a  liberty  which  was  in  no  degree  lessened  to 
her  apprehension  by  the  unaccustomed  gentleness  of 
his  voice,  and  the  humble  and  faltering  manner  in 
which  he  had  asked  her  consent  to  the  present.  "  I 
am  unused  to  such  gaudy  trappings,  and  should  not 
be  content  to  wear  the  cloak  ;"  then  perceiving  some 
reproof,  as  she  fancied,  in  the  countenance  of  her 
sister  Alice  and  the  Lady  Maria,  she  added,  in  a 
kindlier  voice,  "  I  dare  not  accept  it  at  your  hand, 
Master  Skipper." 

"  Nay,"  replied  Cocklescraft,  presuming  upon  the 
mildness  of  the  maiden's  last  speech,  and  pressing 
the  matter  with  that  obtrusiveness  which  marked  his 
character  and  nurture,  "  I  shall  not  take  it  kindly 
if  thou  dost  not ;"  and  as  a  flush  overspread  his  cheek, 
he  added,  "  I  counted  to  a  certainty  that  you 
do  me  this  courtesy." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  207 

"  Men  sometimes  count  rashly,  Master  Cockles- 
craft,"  interposed  the  Lady  Maria,  "who  presume 
upon  a  maiden's  willingness  to  incur  such  debts." 

"  Save  you,  madam,"  replied  the  Skipper ;  "I  should 
be  sorry  Mistress  Blanche  should  deem  it  to  be  in 
curring  a  debt." 

"  I  have  not  been  trained,"  said  Blanche,  with  per 
fect  self-possession  and  firmness  of  manner,  which 
she  intended  should  put  an  end  to  the  Skipper's  im 
portunity,  "  to  receive  such  favours  from  the  hand  of 
a  stranger ;  when  1  have  need  of  a  mantle,  the  mercer 
shall  be  my  friend." 

"  You  will,  perchance,  think  better  of  it  when  you 
see  the  mantle,"  said  the  Skipper,  carelessly,  and  then 
added  with  a  saucy  smile,  "  women  are  changeful, 
Master  Collector ;  I  will  bring  the  gewgaw  for  Mis 
tress  Blanche's  inspection — a  chapman  may  have 
that  privilege." 

"  You  may  spare  yourself  the  trouble,"  said  the 
maiden. 

"  Nay,  mistress,  think  it  not  a  trouble,  I  beseech 
you ;  I  count  nothing  a  trouble  which  shall  allow  me 
to  please  thy  fancy."  As  the  Skipper  uttered  this  he 
came  still  nearer  to  the  chair  on  which  Blanche  was 
seated,  and,  almost  in  a  whisper,  said,  "  I  pray  you, 
mistress,  think  not  so  lightly  of  my  wish  to  serve  you. 
I  have  set  my  heart  upon  your  taking  the  mantle." 

"  Master  Skipper,  a  word  with  you,"  interrupted 
the  Secretary,  who  had  watched  the  whole  scene ; 
and*«ware  of  the  annoyance  which  Cocklescraft's 
rudeness  inflicted  upon  the  maiden,  had  quietly  ap- 


208  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

preached  him  and  now  beckoned  him  to  a  recess  of 
the  window,  where  they  might  converse  without 
being  heard  by  the  company.  "  It  is  not  civil  to  im 
portune  the  lady  in  this  fashion.  You  must  be  satis 
fied  with  her  answer  as  she  has  given  it  to  you.  It 
vexes  the  daughter  of  Master  Warden  to  be  thus  be 
sought.  I  pray  you,  sir,  no  more  of  it." 

Cocklescraft  eyed  the  Secretary  for  a  moment  with 
a  glance  of  scornful  resentment,  and  then  replied  in  a 
voice  inaudible  to  all  but  the  person  to  whom  it  was 
addressed.  "  Right!  perhaps  you  are  right,  sir;  but 
when  I  would  be  tutored  for  my  behaviour,  he  shall 
be  a  man,  by  my  troth,  who  takes  that  duty  on  him, 
and  shall  wear  a  beard  and  sword  both.  I  needed  not 
thy  schooling,  master  crotchet-monger !"  Then  leav- 
ingt  he  Secretary,  he  strode  towards  the  maiden,  and 
assuming  a  laughing  face,  which  but  awkwardly  con 
cealed  his  vexation,  he  said,  "  well,  Mistress  Blanche, 
since  you  are  resolved  that  you  will  not  take  my 
poor  bauble  off  my  hands,  I  must  give  it  over  as  a 
venture  lost,  and  so  an  end  of  it.  I  were  a  fool  to 
be  vexed  because  I  could  not  read  the  riddle  of  a 
maiden's  fancy:  how  should  such  fish  of  the  sea  be 
learned  in  so  gentle  a  study?  So,  viaggio,  it  shall 
break  no  leg  of  mine  !  I  will  dance  none  the  less 
merrily  for  it  at  the  feast:  and  as  for  the  mantle, 
why  it  may  find  other  shoulders  in  the  Port,  though 
it  shall  never  find  them  so  fit  to  wear  it  withal,  as  the 
pretty  shoulders  of  Mistress  Blanche.  Master  War 
den  I  must  fain  take  my  leave ;  my  people  wait  me 
at  the  quay.  Fair  weather  for  the  feast,  and  a 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  209 

merry  time   of  it,  ladies !   A  Dios,  Master  Collec 
tor  !" 

The  gaiety  of  this  leaving-taking  was  dashed  with 
a  sternness  of  manner  which  all  the  Skipper's  acting 
could  not  conceal,  and  as  he  walked  towards  the  door, 
he  paused  a  moment  to  touch  Albert  Verheyden's 
cloak  and  whispered  in  his  ear,  "  We  shall  be  better 
acquainted,  sir;"  then  leaving  the  house  he  rapidly 
shaped  his  course  towards  the  town. 

He  had  scarcely  got  out  of  sight  before  Blanche 
sprang  from  her  chair  and  ran  towards  her  father, 
pouring  out  upon  him  a  volley  of  reproof  for  his  un 
advised  and  especially  unauthorized  invitation  of  the 
Skipper  to  the  festival.  The  maiden  was  joined  in 
this  assault  by  her  auxiliaries,  the  Proprietary's  sister 
and  Mistress  Alice,  who  concurred  in  reading  the 
simple-minded  and  unconsciously  offending  old  gen 
tleman  a  lecture  upon  his  improvident  interference 
in  this  delicate  matter.  They  insisted  that  Cockles- 
craft's  associations  in  the  port  gave  him  no  claim  to 
such  a  favour,  and  that,  at  all  events,  it  was  Blanche's 
prerogative  to  be  consulted  in  regard  to  the  admis 
sion  of  the  younger  and  gayer  portions  of  her  com 
pany. 

"  Have  you  not  had  your  will,  my  dear  father," 
was  the  summing  up  of  Blanche's  playful  attack,  "to 
your  full  content,  in  summoning  all  the  old  humdrum 
folks  of  the  province,  even  to  the  Dominie  and  his 
wife,  who  have  never  been  known  to  go  to  a  merry 
making  any  where,  and  who  are  both  so  deaf  that 
they  have  not  heard  each  other  speak  this  many  a 


210  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

day  ?  and  now  you  must  needs  be  bringing  the  Skipper 
hither." 

"  Lackaday,  wench !  what  have  I  done  to  redden 
thy  brow  ?"  interrupted  Mr.  Warden,  with  a  face  of 
perplexed  good  humour,  unable  longer  to  bear  the 
storm  of  rebuke,  or  to  parry  the  arguments  which 
were  so  eagerly  thrust  at  him ;  "  I  warrant  now  I 
have  made  mischief  without  knowing  how !  The 
Skipper  is  a  free  blade,  of  good  metal,  arid  of  a  figure, 
too,  which,  methinks,  might  please  a  damsel  in  a 
dance,  and  spare  us  all  this  coil;  his  leg  has  not  its 
fellow  in  the  province.  You  take  me  to  task  roundly, 
when  all  the  while  I  was  so  foolish  as  to  believe  I  was 
doing  you  regardful  service." 

"  He  hath  a  wicked  look,  father,"  was  Blanche's 
reply;  "and  a  saucy  freedom  which  I  like  not.  He 
is  ever  too  bold  in  his  greeting,  and  lacks  gentle  breed 
ing.  He  must  come  to  me,  forsooth,  with  his  mantle, 
as  an  especial  token,  and  set  upon  me  with  so  much 
constancy  to  take  it !  Take  a  mantle  from  him !  I 
have  never  even  seen  him  but  twice  before,  and  then 
it  was  in  church,  where  he  must  needs  claim  to  speak 
to  me  as  if  he  were  an  old  acquaintance  !  I  will  none 
of  him  nor  his  mantle,  if  he  were  fifty  times  a  pro- 
perer  man  than  he  is!" 

"  Be  it  so,  my  daughter,"  replied  the  Collector. 
"  But  we  must  bear  this  mishap  cheerily.  I  will  not 
oflend  again.  You  women,"  he  said,  as  he  walked 
to  and  fro  through  the  parlour,  with  his  hands  behind 
his  back,  and  a  good  natured  smile  playing  over  his 
features,  "  you  women  are  more  shrewd  to  read  the 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  211 

qualities  of  men,  especially  in  matters  touching  be 
haviour,  than  such  old  pock-puddings  as  I  arn.  I 
will  be  better  counselled  before  I  trespass  in  this  sort 
again.  But  remember,  Blanche,  the  Skipper  has  his 
summons,  and  our  hospitality  must  not  suffer  re 
proach  ;  so  we  will  e'en  make  the  best  we  can  of  this 
blundering  misadventure  of  mine.  For  our  own 
honour,  we  must  be  courteous,  Blanche,  to  the  Skipper; 
and,  therefore,  do  thou  take  heed  that  he  have  no 
cause  to  say  we  slight  him.  As  I  get  old  I  shall 
grow  wise." 

Blanche  threw  her  arms  around  her  father's  neck 
and  imprinting  a  kiss  upon  his  brow,  said  in  a  tone 
of  affectionate  playfulness,  "  for  your  sake,  dear 
father,  I  will  not  chide :  the  Skipper  shall  not  want 
due  observance  from  me.  I  did  but  speak  to  give  you 
a  caution,  by  which  you  shall  learn  that  the  maidens 
of  this  province  are  so  foolish  as  to  stand  to  it,  and  I 
amongst  the  rest,  that  they  are  better  able  to  choose 
their  gallants  than  their  fathers, — though  their  fathers 
be  amongst  his  Lordship's  most  trusty  advisers." 

"  Now  a  thousand  benisons  upon  thy  head,  my 
child!"  said  the  Collector,  as  he  laid  his  hand  upon 
Blanche's  glSssy  locks,  and  then  left  the  apartment. 


212  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


Friend  to  the  sea,  and  foeman  sworn 
To  all  that  on  her  waves  are  borne, 
When  falls  a  mate  in  battle  broil 
His  comrade  heirs  his  portioned  spoil — 
Chalice  and  plate  from  churches  borne, 
And  gems  from  shrieking1  beauty  torn, 
Each  string  of  pearl,  each  silver  bar, 
And  all  the  wealth  of  western  war. 

ROKEBT. 


As  the  Skipper  strode  towards  the  town,  his  dogged 
air  and  lowering  brow  evinced  the  disquiet  of  his  spirit 
at  what  had  just  occurred.  He  was  nettled  by  the 
maiden's  rejection  of  his  proffered  gift,  and  a  still 
deeper  feeling  of  resentment  agitated  his  mind  against 
the  Secretary.  Far  other  man  was  he  than  he  was 
deemed  by  the  burghers  of  St.  Mary's.  In  truth, 
they  knew  but  little  more  of  him  than  might  be  gained 
from  his  few  occasional  visits  to  the  port  in  a  calling 
which,  as  it  brought  him  a  fair  harvest  of  profit,  laid 
him  under  a  necessity  to  cultivate,  for  the  nonce,  the 
good  opinion  of  his  customers  by  such  address  as  he 
was  master  of. 

Cocklescraft  belonged  to  that  tribe  of  desperate 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  213 

men,  until  near  this  period  in  the  full  career  of  their 
bloody  successes,  known  as  "  The  Brethren  of  the 
Coast."     His  first  breath  was  drawn  upon  the  billows 
of  the  ocean,  and  his  infancy  was  nursed  in  the  haunts 
of  the  buccaneers,  amongst  the  Keys  of  the  Bahamas. 
When  but  a  lad,  attending  upon  these  wild  hordes  in 
their  expeditions  against  the  commerce  of  the  Gulf,  he 
chanced  to  attract  the  notice  of  the  famous  Captain 
Morgan,  whilst  that  most  rapacious  of  all  the  pirate 
leaders  was  preparing,  at  Jamaica,  for  his  incursion 
against  Maracaibo.     The  freebooter  was  charmed 
with  the  precocious  relish  for  rapine  conspicuous  in 
the  character  of  the  boy;  and,  with  an  affectionate  in 
terest,  took  him  under  his  tutelage,  assigning  to  him  a 
post  near  his  person,  rather  of  pageantry  than  service 
— that  of  a  page  or  armour-bearer,  according  to  the  yet 
lingering  forms  of  chivalry.     The  incredible  bravery 
of  the  buccaneers  in  this  exploit,  and  their  detestable 
cruelties  were  witnessed  by  this  callow  imp  of  the 
sea,  with  a  delight  and  a  shrewdness  of  apprehension 
which  gave  to  his  youthful  nature  the  full  benefit  of 
the  lesson.     He  was  scarce  two  years  older  when, 
in  the  due  succession  of  his  hopeful  experience,  he 
again  attended  his  patron  upon  that  unmatched  ad 
venture  of  plunder  and  outrage,  the  leaguer  of  Pa 
nama;  and  it  was  remarked  that  amidst  the  perils  of 
the  cruise  upon  the  Costa  Rica,  the  toils  of  the  inland 
march  over  moor  and  mountain,  and  the  desperate 
hazards  of  the  storming  of  the  city,  the  page,  grace 
ful  and  active  as  the  minion  of  a  lady's  bower,  and 
fierce  as  a  young  sea-wolf,  was  seen  every  where, 


- 


214  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

like  an  elvish  sprite,  tracking  the  footsteps  of  his 
ruthless  master.  The  history  of  human  wickedness 
has  not  a  more  appalling  chapter  than  that  which  re 
cords  the  fate  of  the  wretched  inhabitants  of  Panama 
in  this  assault;  and  yet,  in  the  midst  of  its  shocking 
enormities,  the  gay  and  tasseled  familiar  of  the  ruffian 
pirate  chief  tripped  daintily  through  the  carnage,  with 
the  light  step  of  a  reveller,  and  pursued  the  flying 
virgins  and  affrighted  matrons,  from  house  to  house, 
as  the  flames  enveloped  their  roof  trees,  with  the 
mockery  and  prankishness  of  an  actor  in  a  masque 
rade.  This  expedition  terminated  not  without  add 
ing  another  item  to  the  experience  of  the  young  free 
booter — the  only  one,  perhaps,  yet  wanting  to  his 
perfect  accomplishment.  The  Welsh  Captain,  laden 
with  spoils  of  untold  value,  played  false  to  his  com 
rades,  by  stealing  off  with  the  lion's  share  of  the 
booty ;  thus,  by  a  gainful  act  of  perfidy,  inculcating 
upon  the  eager  susceptibility  of  the  page  an  imposing 
moral,  of  which  it  may  be  supposed  he  would  not  be 
slow  to  profit. 

Such  was  the  school  in  which  Cocklescraft  re 
ceived  the  rudiments  of  his  education.  These  harsher 
traits  of  his  character,  however,  it  is  but  justice  to 
say,  were,  in  some  degree,  mitigated  by  a  tolerably 
fair  amount  of  scholastic  accomplishment,  picked  up 
in  the  intervals  of  his  busy  life  amongst  the  scant 
teaching  afforded  by  the  islands,  of  which  the  pro 
tection  and  care  of  his  patron  enabled  him  to  profit. 
To  this  was  added  no  mean  skill  in  music,  dancing, 
and  the  use  of  his  weapon ;  whilst  a  certain  enthu- 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  215 

siasm  of  temperament  stimulated  his  courage  and 
even  whetted  the  fierceness  of  his  nature. 

Morgan,  having  run  his  career,  returned  to  Eng 
land,  a  man  of  wealth,  and  was  knighted  by  the 
monarch,  in  one  of  those  profligate  revels  by  which 
Charles  disgraced  his  kingly  state ;  the  page  was,  in 
consequence,  turned  adrift  upon  the  world,  as  it  is 
usual  to  say  of  heroes,  "  with  no  fortune  but  his 
talents,  and  no  friend  but  his  sword."  Riot  soon  ex 
hausted  his  stock  of  plunder,  and  the  prodigal  licen 
tiousness  of  "  The  Brethren  of  the  Coast,"  forbade 
the  gathering  of  a  future  hoard.  About  this  date  the 
European  powers  began  to  deal  more  resolutely  with 
the  banditti  of  the  islands,  and  their  trade  conse 
quently  became  more  precarious.  They  were  com 
pelled,  in  pursuit  of  new  fields  for  robbery,  to  cross 
the  isthmus  and  try  their  fortunes  on  the  coast  of 
the  Pacific — whither  Cocklescraft  followed  and  reap 
ed  his  harvest  in  the  ravage  of  Peru  :  but  in  turn,  the 
Brethren  found  themselves  tracked  into  these  remoter 
seas,  and  our  adventurer  was  fain,  with  many  of 
his  comrades,  to  find  his  way  back  to  the  coves  and 
secret  harbours  of  Tortuga  and  the  Keys,  whence 
he  contrived  to  eke  out  a  scant  subsistence,  by  an  oc 
casional  stoop  upon  such  defenceless  wanderers  of 
the  ocean  as  chance  threw  within  his  grasp.  The 
Olive  Branch  was  a  beautiful  light  vessel,  which,  in 
one  of  his  sea-forays,  he  had  wrested  from  a  luckless 
merchant ;  and  this  acquisition  suggested  to  him  the 
thought  that,  with  such  necessary  alterations  as 
should  disguise  her  figure  and  equipment,  he  might 


216  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

drive  a  more  secure,  and,  perchance,  more  profitable 
trade  between  the  Atlantic  colonies  and  the  old 
countries;  so,  with  a  mongrel  crew  of  trusty  cut 
throats,  carefully  selected  from  the  companions  of 
his  former  fortunes,  and  a  secret  armament  well 
bestowed  for  sudden  emergency,  he  set  himself  up 
for  an  occasional  trader  between  the  Chesapeake  and 
the  coast  of  Holland.  A  lucky  acquaintance  with 
the  Cripple  of  St.  Jerome's  gave  him  a  useful  ally  in 
his  vocation  as  a  smuggler;  the  fisherman's  hut,  long 
believed  to  be  the  haunt  of  evil  spirits,  admirably  fa 
voured  his  design,  and  under  the  management  of  Rob, 
soon  became  a  spot  of  peculiar  desecration  in  popular 
report;  and  thus,  in  no  long  space  of  time,  the  gay, 
swa'shing  cavalier,  master  of  the  Olive  Branch,  began 
to  find  good  account  in  his  change  of  character  from 
the  Flibustier  of  the  Keys  into  that  of  smuggler  and 
trader  of  the  Chesapeake.  He  had  now  made  several 
voyages  from  St.  Mary's  to  the  various  marts  of 
Holland  and  England,  taking  out  cargoes  of  tobacco 
and  bringing  back  such  merchandise  as  was  likely 
to  find  a  ready  sale  in  the  colonies.  His  absence 
from  port  was  often  mysteriously  prolonged,  and  on 
his  return  it  not  unfrequently  happened  that  there 
were  found  amongst  his  cargo  commodities  such  as 
might  scarce  be  conjectured  to  have  been  brought 
from  the  ports  of  Europe, — consisting  some  times  of 
tropical  fruits,  ingots  of  gold  and  silver,  and  sundry 
rich  furniture  of  Indian  aspect,  better  fitted  for  the 
cabinet  of  the  virtuoso  than  the  trade  of  a  new  pro 
vince.  Then,  also,  there  were  occasionally  costly 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  217 

stuffs,  and  tissues  of  exceeding  richness,  such  as  cloth 
of  gold,  velvets  of  Genoa,  arras  tapestry,  and  even 
pictures  which  might  have  hung  in  churches.  These 
commodities  were  invariably  landed  at  St.  Jerome's 
Bay  before  the  Olive  Branch  cast  her  anchor  in 
the  harbour  of  St.  Mary's,  and  were  reshipped  on 
the  outward  voyage.  The  Cripple  of  St.  Jerome's 
had  a  few  customers  who  were  privileged  at  certain 
periods  to  traffic  with  him  in  a  species  of  merchan 
dise  of  which  he  was  seldom  without  a  supply  at  his 
command — chiefly  wines  and  strong  waters,  and 
coarser  household  goods,  which  were  charily  exhi 
bited  in  small  parcels  at  the  hut,  and  when  the  bar 
gain  was  made,  supplied  in  greater  bulk  by  unseen 
hands  from  secret  magazines,  concerning  which  the 
customer  was  not  so  rash  as  even  to  inquire — for  Rob 
was  a  man  who,  the  country  people  most  devoutly 
believed,  had  immediate  commerce  with  the  Evil 
One,  and  who,  it  was  known,  would  use  his  dagger 
before  he  gave  warning  by  words. 

The  open  and  lawful  dealing  of  the  Skipper,  in  the 
port  of  St.  Mary's,  had  brought  him  into  an  acquaint 
ance  with  most  of  the  inhabitants,  and  as  his  arrival 
was  always  a  subject  of  agreeable  expectation,  he 
was,  by  a  natural  consequence,  looked  upon  with  a 
friendly  regard.  His  address,  gaiety  of  demeanour, 
and  fine  figure — which  last  was  studiously  set  off  to 
great  advantage  by  a  rich  and  graceful  costume — 
heightened  this  sentiment  of  personal  favour,  and 
gave  him  privileges  in  the  society  of  the  town  which, 
in  that  age  of  scrupulous  regard  to  rank,  would  have 

VOL.  I.— 19 


218  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

been  denied  him  if  he  had  been  a  constant  sojourner. 
Emboldened  by  this  reception  he  had  essayed  to 
offer  some  gallant  civilities  to  the  maiden  of  the  Rose 
Croft,  which  were  instantly  repelled,  however,  by 
the  most  formal  coldness.  The  Skipper  was  not  so 
practised  an  observer  as  to  perceive  in  this  repug 
nance,  the  actual  aversion  which  the  maiden  felt 
against  his  advances  to  acquaintance ;  and  he  was 
content  to  account  it  a  merely  girlish  reserve  which 
importunity  and  assiduous  devotion  might  overcome. 
His  vanity  suggested  the  resolve  to  conquer  the  dam 
sel's  indifference;  and  as  that  thought  grew  upon  his 
fancy,  it,  by  degrees,  ripened  into  a  settled  purpose, 
which  in  the  end  completely  engrossed  his  mind.  As 
he  brooded  over  the  subject,  and  permitted  his  ima 
gination  to  linger  around  that  form  of  beauty  and 
loveliness, — cherished  as  it  was,  during  the  long 
weeks  of  his  lonely  tracking  of  the  sea,  and  in  the 
solitary  musings  and  silent  night-watches  of  his  deck, 
— a  romantic  ardour  was  kindled  in  his  breast,  and 
he  hastened  back  to  the  Port  of  St.  Mary's,  strangely 
wrought  upon  by  new  impulses,  which  seemed  to 
have  humanized  and  mellowed  even  his  rude  nature: 
the  shrewder  observers  were  aware  of  more  gentle 
ness  in  his  bearing,  though  they  found  him  more 
wayward  in  his  temper; — he  was  prouder  of  heart, 
yet  with  humbler  speech,  and  often  more  stern  than 
before.  The  awakening  of  a  new  passion  had  over 
mastered  both  the  ferocity  and  the  levity  of  his  cha 
racter.  He  was,  in  truth,  the  undivulged,  anxious, 
and  almost  worshipping  lover  of  Blanche  Warden. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  219 

When  such  a  nature  as  I  have  described  chances 
to  fall  into  the  loving  vein,  it  will  be  admitted  to  be 
a  somewhat  fearful  category  both  for  the  lady  and 
the  lover's  rival.  Such  men  are  not  apt  to  mince 
matters  in  the  course  of  their  wooing. 

This  was  the  person  who  now  plied  his  way  to 
wards  the  port,  in  solitary  rumination  over  two  dis 
tinct  topics  of  private  grief,  each  of  a  nature  to  rouse 
the  angry  devil  of  his  bosom.  He  could  not  but  see 
that  his  first  approach  towards  the  favour  of  his  mis 
tress  had  been  promptly  repelled.  That  alone  would 
have  filled  his  mind  with  bitterness,  and  given  a 
harsh  complexion  to  his  thoughts; — but  this  cause  of 
complaint  was  almost  stifled  by  the  more  engrossing 
sentiment  of  hostility  against  the  Secretary.  That 
he  should  have  been  rebuked  for  his  behaviour,  by  a 
man, — and  a  man,  too,  who  evidently  stood  well 
with  the  lady  of  his  love ;  taken  to  task  and  chid  in 
the  very  presence  of  his  mistress, — was  an  offence 
that  called  immediately  to  his  manhood  and  demand 
ed  redress.  Such  redress  was  more  to  his  hand  than 
the  nicer  subtleties  of  weighing  the  maiden's  displea 
sure,  and  he  turned  to  it  with  a  natural  alacrity,  as 
to  a  comfort  in  his  perplexity.  It  is  the  instinct  of  a 
rude  nature  to  refer  all  cases  of  wounded  sensibility 
to  the  relief  of  battle.  A  rejected  lover,  like  a  child 
who  has  lost  a  toy,  finds  consolation  in  his  distress 
by  fighting  any  one  that  he  can  persuade  himself  has 
stood  in  his  way,  and  he  is  made  hapgy  when  there 
chances  to  be  some  plausible  ground  for  such  a  pro 
ceeding.  The  Skipper  thought  the  subject  over  in 


220  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

every  aspect  which  his  offended  pride  could  fancy. 
At  one  moment  the  idea  of  quarrel  with  the  Secre 
tary  pleased  him,  and  almost  reconciled  him  to  the 
maiden's  coldness ;  at  the  next  he  doubted  whether, 
after  all,  she  had  in  fact  designed  to  repel  his  friend 
ship.  He  vibrated  between  these  considerations  for 
a  space  in  silence :  his  pride  quelled  the  expression 
of  his  anger.  But  by  degrees  his  quickened  pace 
and  sturdier  step,  and,  now  and  then,  that  slight 
shake  of  the  head  by  which  men  sometimes  express 
determination,  made  it  plain  that  the  fiery  element  in 
his  bosom  was  rising  in  tumult.  At  length,  unable  to 
suppress  his  feeling,  the  inward  commotion  found  ut 
terance  in  words. 

"  Who  and  what  is  this  Master  Secretary  that  hath 
set  the  maiden  of  the  Rose  Croft  to  look  upon  me 
with  an  evil  spirit?  I  would  fain  know  if  he  think 
himself  a  properer  man  than  I.  Doth  he  stand  upon 
his  fingering  of  a  lute,  and  his  skill  to  dance  ? — Why 
even  in  this  chamber-craft  I  will  put  it  to  a  wager  he 
is  no  master  of  mine.  Is  he  more  personable  in 
shape  or  figure  ? — goes  he  in  better  apparel  ?  or  is 
that  broken  English  of  his  more  natural  to  the  pro 
vince  than  my  plain  speech,  that  he  should  claim  the 
right  to  chide  me  for  my  behaviour?  Is  it  that  he 
hath  a  place  in  the  train  of  his  Lordship?  Have  not 
I  served  as  near  to  a  belted  knight — lord  of  a  thou 
sand  stout  hearts  and  master  of  a  fleet  of  thirty  sail? 
— ay,  and  in  straits  where  you  should  as  soon  expect 
to  meet  a  hare  as  that  crotchet-monger.  A  bookish 
clerk  with  no  manly  calling  that  should  soil  his  ruff 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  221 

in  the  space  of  a  moon  !  By  Saint  lago,  but  I  will 
put  him  to  his  books  to  learn  how  lie  shall  heal  the 
stroke  of  a  choleric  hand,  when  the  time  shall  serve 
to  give  him  the  taste  of  it ! — Mistress  Blanche  would 
not  be  importuned — indeed  !  And  he  must  be  my 
tutor  to  teach  me  what  pleaseth  Mistress  Blanche. 
He  lied — the  maiden  did  not  mislike  my  question ; — 
she  but  hung  her  head  to  have  it  so  openly  spoken. 
I  know  she  doth  not  set  at  naught  my  favours,  but 
as  damsels  from  custom  do  a  too  public  tender  of  a 
token.  Old  Anthony  Warden  counts  his  friends  by 
their  manhood,  and  he  hath  shown  me  grace: — his 
daughter  in  the  end  will  follow  his  likings — and  as 
the  father's  choice  approves,  so  will  her's  incline. 
Am  I  less  worthy  in  old  Master  Warden's  eyes,  than 
yonder  parchment  bearer — that  pen-and-ink  slave  of 
his  Lordship's  occasions  1 — he  that  durst  not  raise 
his  eye  above  his  Lord's  shoe,  nor  speak  out  of  a 
whisper  when  his  betters  are  in  presence  ?  What  is 
he,  to  put  me  from  the  following  of  my  own  will 
when  it  pleases  me  to  speak  to  any  maiden  of  this 
province? — I  am  of  the  sea — the  broad,  deep  sea! 
she  hath  nursed  me  in  her  bosom, — and  hath  given 
me  my  birth-right  to  be  as  proudly  borne  as  the  ho 
nours  of  any  lord  of  the  land.  I  have  a  brave  deck 
for  my  foot,  a  good  blade  for  my  belt,  the  bountiful 
ocean  before  me  and  a  score  of  merry  men  at  my 
back.  Are  these  conditions  so  mean  that  I  must 
brook  the  Secretary's  displeasure  or  fashion  my 
speech  to  suit  his  liking  ? — We  shall  understand  each 
other  better,  in  good  time,  or  I  shall  lack  opportunity 

19* 


222  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

to  speak  my  mind : — I  shall,  good  Master  Verhey- 
den, — you  have  the  word  of  a  '  Brother  of  the  Bloody 
Coast' 'for  that!" 

Before  the  Skipper  had  ceased  this  petulant  and 
resentful  self-communion,  he  found  himself  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Catholic  Chapel,  nearly  in  front 
of  the  dwelling  of  father  Pierre,  when  the  good 
priest,  who  was  at  this  moment  returning  from  noon 
day  service,  took  him  at  unawares  with  the  saluta 
tion, — 

"  Peace  be  with  you,  son ! — you  reckon  up  the 
sum  of  your  ventures  with  a  careful  brow,  and  speak 
loud  enough  to  make  the  town  acquainted  with  thy 
gains,  if  perchance  some  of  the  chapmen  with  whom 
thou  hast  dealing  should  be  in  thy  path.  How  fares 
it  with  thee,  Master  Skipper  ?" 

"Ha,  Mi  Padre!"  exclaimed  Cocklescraft,  in 
stantly  throwing  aside  his  graver  thoughts  and  as 
suming  a  jocular  tone.  "  Well  met ; — I  was  on  my 
way  to  visit  you  :  that  would  I  have  done  yesterday 
upon  my  arrival,  but  that  the  press  of  my  business 
would  not  allow  it.  You  grow  old,  father,  so  evenly 
that,  although  I  seey  ou  but  after  long  partings,  I  can 
count  no  fresh  touch  of  time  upon  your  head." 

"  Men  of  your  calling  should  not  flatter,"  said  the 
priest  smiling.  "  What  news  do  you  'bring  us  from 
the  old  world  ?" 

"Oh,  much  and  merry,  father  Pierre.  The  old 
world  plies  her  old  trade  and  thrives  by  it.  Knavery 
hath  got  somewhat  of  the  upper  hand  since  they 
have  quit  crossing  swords  in  this  new  piece  of  Nime- 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  223 

guen.  The  Hogan  Mogans  are  looking  a  little  surly 
at  theJFrenchman  for  cocking  his  beaver  so  bravely; 
and  our  jobbernowl  English,  now  that  they  can  find 
no  more  reason  to  throttle  each  other,  have  gone 
back  to  their  old  sport  of  pricking  the  side  of  our 
poor  church.  You  shall  find  as  many  plots  in  Lon 
don,  made  out  of  hand  and  ready  for  use  in  one 
month,  as  would  serve  all  the  stage  plays  of  the 
kingdom  for  the  next  hundred  years — and  every  plot 
shall  have  a  vile  Papist  at  the  bottom  of  it, — if  you 
may  believe  Gates  and  Bedloe.  I  was  there  when 
my  Lord  Stafford  was  made  a  head  shorter  on  Tower 
Hill.  You  heard  of  this,— father?" 

"  Alack  !  in  sorrow  we  heard  of  this  violence,"  re 
plied  the  priest, ;  "  and  deeply  did  it  grieve  my  Lord 
to  lose  so  good  a  friend.  Even  as  you  have  found  it 
in  England,  so  is  it  here.  The  discontents  against 
the  holy  church  are  nursed  by  many  who  seek  there 
by  to  command  the  province.  We  have  plotters 
here  who  do  not  scruple  to  contrive  against  the  life 
of  his  Lordship  and  his  Lordship's  brother  the  Chan 
cellor.  Besides,  the  government  at  home  is  unfriendly 
to  us." 

"  You  have  late  news  from  England?'  inquired  the 
Skipper. 

"  We  have, — and  which,  but  that  you  are  true  in 
your  creed,  I  might  scarce  mention  to  your  ear — 
the  royal  order  has  come  to  my  Lord  to  dismiss  his 
Catholic  servants  from  office — every  one.  His  Lord 
ship  scruples  to  obey.  This,  Master  Skipper,  I  con 
fide  to  you  in  private,  as  not  to  be  told  again." 


224  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  To  remove  all !"  said  Cocklescraft.  "  Why  it 
will  sweep  off  his  nearest  friends — Anthony  War 
den  and  all." 

"  Even  so." 

"  There  is  fighting  matter  in  that,  upon  the  spot," 
exclaimed  the  Skipper.  "  By  St.  Sebastian,  I  hope  it 
may  come  up  while  I  am  in  port!  The  Collector, 
old  as  he  is,  will  buckle  on  his  toledo  in  that  quarrel. 
He  has  mettle  for  it;  and  I  could  wish  no  better  play 
than  to  stand  by  his  side.  Who  is  this  Secretary  of 
my  Lord's  private  chamber  ?  I  met  him  at  the  Col 
lector's  to-day." 

"  Master  Albert  Verheyden,"  replied  the  priest. 

"  I  know  his  name — they  told  it  to  me  there — but 
his  quality  and  condition,  father  1" 

"  You  may  be  proud  of  his  fellowship,"  said  father 
Pierre  ;  "  he  was  once  a  scholar  of  the  Jesuit  school 
at  Antwerp,  of  the  class  inscribed  '  Princeps  Dili- 
gentias,'  and  brought  thence  by  my  Lord.  A  youth, 
Master  Cocklescraft,  of  promise  and  discretion — a 
model  to  such  as  would  learn  good  manners  and 
cherish  virtuous  inclinations.  You  may  scarcely 
fail  to  see  him  at  the  Collector's  :  the  townspeople  do 
say  he  has  an  eye  somewhat  dazzled  there." 

"  Craving  pardon  for  my  freedom,  I  say,  father 
Pierre,  a  fig's  end  for  such  a  model!"  exclaimed  the 
Skipper,  pettishly :  "  you  may  have  such  by  the 
score,  wherever  lazy,  bookish  men  eat  their  bread. 
I  like  him  not,  with  his  laced  band  and  feather,  his 
book  and  lute :  harquebuss  and  whinyard  are  the 
tools  for  these  days.  I  hear  the  Fendalls  have  been 


UOB  OF  THE  BOWL.  225 

at  mischief  again.  We  shall  come  to  bilbo  and  buff 
before  long.  Your  Secretary  will  do  marvellous  ser 
vice  in  these  straits,  father." 

"  Son,  you  are  somewhat  sinful  in  your  scorn," 
said  the  priest,  mildly;  "  the  Secretary  doth  not  de 
serve  this  taunt " 

"  By  the  holy  hermits,  father,  I  speak  of  the 
Secretary  but  as  I  think.  He  does  not  awe  me  with 
his  greatness.  I  vail  no  topsail  to  him,  I  give  you 
my  word  for  it." 

"  The  saints  preserve  u&  from  harm !"  said  the 
churchman.  "  We  know  not  what  may  befall  us  from 
the  might  of  our  enemies,  when  this  hot  blood  shall 
sunder  our  friends.  In  sober  counsel,  son,  and  not 
in  rash  divisions  shall  we  find  our  safety.  It  doth 
not  become  thee,  Master  Cocklescraft,  to  let  thy 
tetchy  humour  rouse  thee  against  the  Secretary.  It 
might  warrant  my  displeasure." 

"  Mea  culpa,  holy  father — I  do  confess  my  fault," 
said  the  seaman,  in  a  tone  of  assumed  self-constraint 
— "  1  will  not  again  offend ;  and  for  my  present  atone 
ment  will  offer  a  censer  of  pure  silver,  which  in  my 
travels  I  picked  up,  and  in  truth  did  then  design 
to  give,  to  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary's.  I  will  bring 
it  to  the  chapel,  father  Pierre,  as  soon  as  my  vessel 
is  unladen." 

"  You  should  offer  up  your  anger  too,  to  make  this 
gift  acceptable,"  returned  the  priest.  "  Let  thy  de 
dication  be  with  a  cleansed  heart." 

"Ha,  father  Pierre,"  said  the  Skipper,  jocularly; 
"  my  conscience  does  easily  cast  off  a  burden  :  so  it 


226  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

shall  be  as  you  command.  I  did  not  tell  you  that 
whilst  my  brigantine  lay  in  the  Helder,  I  made  a 
land  flight  to  Louvaine,  where  a  certain  Abbot  of 
Andoyne, — a  pious,  somewhat  aged,  and,  thanks  to  a 
wholesome  refectory !  a  good  jolly  priest, — hearing  I 
came  from  the  province,  must  needs  send  for  me 
to  ask  if  I  knew  father  Pierre  de  la  Maise,  and 
upon  my  answer,  that  I  did  right  well,  he  begs  me 
to  bring  his  remembrance  back  to  you." 

"  I  knew  father  Gervase,"  replied  the  priest  with  a 
countenance  full  of  benignity — "  some  forty  years 
ago,  when  he  was  a  reader  in  the  Chair  of  St.  Isidore 
at  Rome.  He  remembers  me  1 — a  blessing  on  his 
head! — and  he  wears  well,  Master  Skipper?" 

"Quite  as  well  as  yourself,"  replied  Cocklescraft. 
"  Father,  a  cup  of  your  cool  water,  and  I  will  de 
part,"  he  said,  as  he  helped  himself  to  the  draught. 
"  I  will  take  heed  to  what  you  have  said  touching  the 
royal  order — and  by  St.  lago,  I  will  be  a  friend  in 
need  to  the  Collector.  Master  Verheyden  shall  not 
be  a  better  one.  Now  fare  thee  well,  father.  Pere 
grine  Cadger  shall  have  order  to  cut  you  off'  a  cas 
sock  from  the  best  cloth  I  have  brought  him,  and 
little  Abbot  the  tailor  shall  put  it  in  fashion  for  you." 
"  You  are  lavish  of  your  bounties,  son,"  replied 
the  priest,  taking  Cocklescraft  by  both  hands  as  he 
was  now  about  to  withdraw.  "  You  have  a  poor 
churchman's  thanks.  It  gives  me  comfort  to  be  so 
considered,  and  I  prize  your  kindness  more  than  the 
cassock.  A  blessing  on  thy  ways,  Master  Cockles- 
craft  !" 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  227 

The  Skipper  once  more  set  forth  on  his  way  to 
wards  the  port;  and  with  a  temper  somewhat  allayed 
by  the  acting  of  the  scene  I  have  just  described, 
though  with  no  abatement  of  the  resentment  which 
rankled  at  the  bottom  of  his  heart,  even  under  the 
smiling  face  and  gay  outside  which  he  could  assume 
with  the  skill  of  a  consummate  dissembler,  he  soon 
reached  the  Crow  and  Archer.  From  thence  he 
meditated,  as  soon  as  his  occasions  would  permit,  a 
visit  to  the  Cripple  of  St.  Jerome's. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


"  Who  be  these,  sir  ?" 

"  Fellows  to  mount  a  bank.     Did  your  instructer 

In  the  dear  tongues  never  discourse  to  you 

Of  the  Italian  mountebanks  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Why  here  you  shall  see  one." 

"  They  are  quacksalvers, 
Fellows  that  live  by  venting  oils  and  drugs." 

VOLPONE. 


THE  council  had  been  summoned  to  meet  on  the 
morning  following  that  of  the  incidents  related  in  the 
last  chapter,  and  the  members  were  now  accord 
ingly  assembling,  soon  after  breakfast,  at  the  Pro 
prietary  mansion.  The  arrival  of  one  or  two 
gentlemen  on  horseback  with  their  servants,  added 
somewhat  to  the  bustle  of  the  stable  yard,  which  was 
already  the  scene  of  that  kind  of  busy  idleness  and 
lounging  occupation  so  agreeable  to  the  menials  of  a 
large  establishment.*  Here,  in  one  quarter,  a  few 
noisy  grooms  were  collected  around  the  watering 
troughs,  administering  the  discipline  of  the  curry 
comb  or  the  wash  bucket  to  some  half  score  of 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  229 

horses.  In  a  corner  of  the  yard  Dick  Pagan  the 
courier  and  Willy  o'  the  Flats,  with  the  zeal  of  ama 
teur  vagrants,  were  striving  to  cozen  each  other 
out  of  their  coppers  at  the  old  game  of  Cross  and 
Pile;  whilst,  in  an  opposite  direction,  Derrick  was 
exhibiting  to  a  group  of  spectators,  amongst  whom 
the  young  heir  apparent  was  a  prominent  personage, 
a  new  set  of  hawk  bells  just  brought  by  the  Olive 
Branch  from  Dort,  and  lecturing,  with  a  learned 
gravity,  upon  their  qualities,  to  the  infinite  edifica 
tion  and  delight  of  his  youthful  pupil.  Slouching  fox 
hounds,  thick-lipped  mastiffs  and  wire-haired  terriers 
mingled  indiscriminately  amongst  these  groups,  as  if 
confident  of  that  favouritism  which  is  the  universal 
privilege  of  the  canine  race  amongst  good  tempered 
persons  and  contented  idlers  all  the  world  over. 
Whilst  the  inhabitants  of  the  yard  were  engrossed 
with  these  occupations,  a  trumpet  was  heard  at  a 
distance  in  the  direction  of  the  town.  The  blast 
came  so  feebly  upon  the  ear  as,  at  first,  to  pass  un 
regarded,  but  being  repeated  at  short  intervals,  and 
at  every  repetition  growing  louder,  it  soon  arrested 
the  general  attention,  and  caused  an  inquiry  from 
all  quarters  into  the  meaning  of  so  unusual  an  inci 
dent. 

"  Fore  God,  I  think  that  there  be  an  alarm  of  In 
dians  in  the  town !"  exclaimed  the  falconer  as  he 
spread  his  hand  behind  his  ear  and  listened  for  some 
moments,  with  a  solemn  and  portentous  visage. 
"  Look  to  it,  lads — there  may  be  harm  afoot.  Put 
up  thy  halfpence,  Dick  Pagan,  and  run  forward  to 

VOL.  I.-— 20 


230  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

seek  out  the  cause  of  this  trumpeting.  I  will  wager 
it  means  mischief,  masters." 

"  Indians  !"  said  Willy  ;  "  Derrick's  five  wits  have 
gone  on  a  fool's  errand  ever  since  the  murder  of  that 
family  at  the  Zachaiah  fort  by  the  salvages.  If  the 
Indians  were  coming  you  should  hear  three  guns 
from  Master  Randolph  Brandt's  look-out  on  the 
Notley  road.  It  is  more  likely  there  may  be  trouble 
at  the  gaol  with  the  townspeople,  for  there  was  a 
whisper  afloat  yesterday  concerning  a  rescue  of  the 
prisoners.  Troth,  the  fellow  has  a  lusty  breath  who 
blows  that  trumpet !" 

"Ay,  and  the  trumpet,"  said  Derrick,  "is  not 
made  to  dance  with,  masters :  there  is  war  and 
throat-cutting  in  it,  or  I  am  no  true  man." 

During  this  short  exchange  of  conjectures,  Dick 
Pagan  had  hastened  to  the  gate  which  opened  to 
wards  the  town,  and  mounting  the  post,  for  the  sake 
of  a  more  extensive  view,  soon  discerned  the  ob 
ject  of  alarm,  when,  turning  towards  his  companions, 
he  shouted, 

"  Wounds, — but  here  's  a  sight!  Pike  and  musket, 
belt  and  saddle,  boys  !  To  it  quickly  ; — you  shall 
have  rare  work  anon.  Wake  up  the  ban  dogs  of  the 
fort  and  get  into  your  harness.  Here  comes  the 
Dutch  Doctor  with  his  trumpeter  as  fierce  as  the 
Dragon  of  Wantley.  Buckle  to  and  stand  your 
ground  !" 

"  Ho,  ho  i"  roared  the  fiddler  with  an  impudent, 
swaggering  laugh.  "  Here's  a  pretty  upshot  to  your 
valours!  Much  cry  and  little  wool,  like  the  Devil's 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  231 

bog-shearing  at  Christmas.  You  dullards,  couldn't 
I  have  told  you  it  was  the  Dutch  Doctor, — if  your 
fright  had  left  you  but  a  handful  of  sense  to  ask  a 
question  ?  Didn't  I  see  both  him  and  his  trumpeter 
last  night  at  the  Crow  and  Archer,  with  all  their  jin- 
gumbobs  in  a  pair  of  panniers?  Oh,  but  he  is  a  rare 
Doctor,  and  makes  such  cures,  I  warrant  you,  as 
have  never  been  seen,  known  or  heard  of  since  the 
days  of  St.  Byno,  who  built  up  his  own  serving  man 
again,  sound  as  a  pipkin,  after  the  wild  beasts  had 
him  for  supper." 

The  trumpet  now  sent  forth  a  blast  which  termi 
nated  in  a  long  flourish,  indicating  the  approach  of 
the  party  to  the  verge  within  which  it  might  not  be 
allowable  to  continue  such  a  clamour ;  and  in  a  few 
moments  afterwards  the  Doctor  with  his  attendant 
entered  the  stable  yard.  He  was  a  little,  sharp-fea 
tured,  portly  man,  of  a  brown,  dry  complexion,  in 
white  periwig,  cream-coloured  coat,  and  scarlet 
small  clothes:  of  a  brisk  gait,  and  consequential  air, 
which  was  heightened  by  the  pompous  gesture  with 
which  he  swayed  a  gold-mounted  cane  full  as  tall  as 
himself.  His  attendant,  a  bluff,  burly,  red-eyed  man, 
with  a  singularly  stolid  countenance,  tricked  out  in  a 
grotesque  costume,  of  which  a  short  cloak,  steeple- 
crowned  hat  and  feather,  and  enormous  nether  gar 
ments,  all  of  striking  colours,  were  the  most  notable 
components,  bore  a  brass  trumpet  suspended  on  one 
side,  and  a  box  of  no  inconsiderable  dimensions  in 
front  of  his  person  ;  and  thus  furnished,  followed  close 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


at  the  heels  of  the  important  individual  whose  coming 
had  been  so  authentically  announced. 

No  sooner  had  the  Doctor  got  fairly  within  the  gate 
than  he  was  met  by  Derrick  Brown,  who,  being  the 
most  authoritative  personage  in  the  yard,  took  upon 
himself  the  office  of  giving  the  stranger  welcome. 

"  Fronts,  how  do  you  do?"  was  the  Doctor's  accost 
in  a  strong,  Low  Dutch  method  of  pronouncing  Eng 
lish.  "I  pelieve  dis  is  not  de  gate  I  should  have  en 
tered  to  see  his  Lordship  de  Lord  Proprietary,"  he 
added,  looking  about  him  with  some  surprise  to  find 
where  he  was. 

"  If  it  was  my  Lord  you  came  to  see,"  said  the 
falconer,  "  you  should  have  turned  to  your  right,  and 
gone  by  the  road  which  leads  to  the  front  of  the 
house.  But  the  way  you  have  come  is  no  whit  the 
longer :  we  can  take  you  through,  Master  Doctor, 
by  the  back  door." 

"  Veil,  veil,  dere  is  noding  lost  by  peing  acquainted 
at  once  wid  de  people  of  de  house,"  replied  the  man 
of  medicine;  "dere  is  luck  to  make  your  first  en 
trance  by  de  pack  door,  as  de  old  saying  is.  I  vas 
summoned  dis  morning  to  appear  before  de  council, 
py  my  Lord's  order;  and  so,  I  thought  I  might  trive 
a  little  pusiness,  at  de  same  time,  wid  de  family." 

"  I  told  you  all,"  said  Willy,  with  an  air  of  self- 
importance  at  his  own  penetration,  "  that  this -was  a 
rare  doctor.  The  council  hath  sent  for  him  !  my 
Lord  hath  made  it  a  state  matter  to  see  him.  It 
is  n't  every  doctor  that  comes  before  the  worshipful 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  233 

council,  I  trow.  Give  him  welcome,  boys,  doff  your 
beavers." 

At  this  command  several  of  the  domestics  touched 
their  hats,  with  a  gesture  partly  in  earnest  and  partly 
in  sport,  as  if  expecting  some  diversion  to  follow. 

"No  capping  to  me,  my  frents !"  exclaimed  the 
Doctor,  with  a  bow,  greatly  pleased  at  these  tokens 
of  respect;  "no  capping  to  me!  Pusiness  is  pusi- 
ness,  and  ven  I  come  to  sell  you  tings  dat  shall  do 
you  goot,  I  tank  you  for  your  custom  and  your 
money,  widout  asking  you  to  touch  your  cap." 

"  There  is  sense  in  that,"  said  John  Alward;  "  and 
since  you  come  to  trade  in  the  yard,  Doctor,  you  can 
show  us  your  wares.  There  is  a  penny  to  be  picked 
up  here." 

"Open  your  box,  Doctor;  bring  out  your  penny 
worths;  show  us  the  inside!"  demanded  several 
voices  at  once. 

"  Ha,  ha  !"  exclaimed  the  vender  of  drugs,  "  you 
are  wise,  goot  frents;  you  know  somewhat!  You 
would  have  a  peep  at  my  aurum  potabiles  in  dat  little 
casket — my  multum  in  parvo?  Yes,  you  shall  see, 
and  you  shall  hear  what  you  have  never  seen  pefore, 
and  shall  not  in  your  long  lives  again." 

"  Have  you  e'er  a  good  cleansing  purge  for  a 
moulting  hawk?"  inquired  Derrick  Brown,  whilst  the 
doctor  was  unlocking  the  box. 

"  Or  a  nostrum  that  shall  be  sure  work  on  a  horse 
with  a  farcy  ?"  asked  one  of  the  grooms. 

"Hast  thou  an  elixir  that  shall  expel  a  lumbago?" 
20* 


23  i  nOB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

demanded  John  Alward  :  all  three  speaking  at  the 
same  instant. 

"  Tib,  the  cook,"  said  a  fourth,  "  has  been  so  sore 
beset  with  cramps,  that  only  this  morning  she  was 
saying,  in  her  heart  she  believed  she  would  not  stop 
to  give  the  paste  buckle  that  Tom  Oxcart  gave  her 
lor  a  token  at  Whitsuntide,  for  a  cordial  that  would 
touch  a  cold  stomach.  I  will  persuade  her  into  a 
trade  with  the  Doctor." 

"Oh,  as  for  the  women,"  replied  a  fifth,  "there 
is  n't  a  wench  in  my  Lord's  service  that  has  n't  a 
bad  tooth,  or  a  cold  stomach,  or  a  tingling  in  the 
ears,  or  some  such  ailing:  it  is  their  nature — they 
would  swallow  the  Doctor's  pack  in  a  week,  if  they 
had  license." 

The  man  of  nostrums  was  too  much  employed  in 
opening  out  his  commodities  to  heed  the  volley  of 
questions  which  were  poured  upon  him  all  round,  but 
having  now  put  himself  in  position  for  action,  he  ad 
dressed  himself  to  his  auditors: 

"  I  vill  answer  all  your  questions  in  goot  time ;  but 
I  must  crave  your  leave,  frents,  to  pegin  in  de  order 
of  my  pusiness.  Dobel,"  he  said,  turning  to  his  at 
tendant,  who  stood  some  paces  in  the  rear,  "  come 
forward  and  pegin." 

The  adjutant  at  this  command  stepped  into  the 
middle  of  the  ring,  and  after  making  several  strange 
grimaces,  of  which  at  first  view  his  countenance 
would  have  been  deemed  altogether  incapable,  and 
bowing  in  three  distinct  quarters  to  the  company, 
commenced  the  following  speech: 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  235 

"  Goot  beoj)lish  !" — this  was  accompanied  with  a 
comic  leer  that  set  the  whole  yard  in  a  roar — "  dish 
ish  de  drice  renowned  und  ingomprbl  Doctor  Closh 
Tebor" — another  grimace,  and  another  volley  of 
laughter — "  what  ish  de  grand  pheseeshan  of  de 
greate  gofernor  of  New  York,  Antony  Prockolls, 
und  lives  in  Alpany  in  de  governor's  own  pallash, 
wid  doo  tousand  guilders  allowed  him  py  de  gofer 
nor  everich  yeere,  und  a  goach  to  rite,  und  a  pody- 
cart  to  go  pefore  him  in  de  sthreets  ven  he  valks  to 
take  de  air.  All  tish  to  keepe  de  gofernor  und  his 
vrouw  de  JLaty  Katerina  Prockholls  in  goot  healf — 
noding  else — on  mein  onor."  This  was  said  with 
great  emphasis,  the  speaker  laying  his  hand  on  his 
heart  and  making  a  bow,  accompanied  with  a  still 
more  ludicrous  grimace  than  any  he  had  yet  ex 
hibited,  which  brought  forth  a  still  louder  peal  from 
his  auditory. 

He  was  about  to  proceed  with  his  commendatory 
harangue,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  Benedict 
Leonard.  It  seems  that  upon  the  first  announcement 
by  the  Doctor  of  the  purport  of  his  visit,  the  youth, 
fearful  lest  his  mother,  who  was  constitutionally  sub 
ject  to  alarm,  might  have  been  disturbed  by  the  trum 
pet,  ran  ofT  to  apprise  her  of  what  he  had  just  wit 
nessed ;  and  giving  her  the  full  advantage  of  Willy's 
exaggerated  estimate  of  the  travelling  healer  of  dis 
ease,  returned,  by  the  lady's  command,  to  conduct 
this  worthy  into  her  presence.  He  accordingly  now 
delivered  his  message,  and  forthwith  master  and  man 


236  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

moved  towards  the  mansion,  with  the  whole  troop  of 
the  stable  yard  at  their  heels. 

The  itinerant  was  introduced  into  Lady  Baltimore's 
presence  in  a  small  parlour,  where  she  was  attended 
by  two  little  girls,  her  only  children  beside  the  boy 
we  have  noticed,  and  the  sister  of  the  Proprietary. 
Her  pale  and  emaciated  frame  and  care-worn  visage 
disclosed  to  the  practised  glance  of  the  visitor  a  facile 
subject  for  his  delusive  art, — a  ready  votary  of  that 
credulous  experimentalism  which  has  filled  the  world 
with  victims  to  medical  imposture.  In  the  professor 
of  medicine's  reverence  to  the  persons  before  him 
there  was  an  overstrained  obsequiousness,  but,  at  the 
same  time,  an  expression  of  imperturbable  confidence 
fully  according  with  the  ostentatious  pretension  which 
marked  his  demeanour  amongst  the  menials  of  the 
household.  Notwithstanding  his  broad  accent,  he 
spoke  with  a  ready  fluency  that  showed  him  well 
skilled  in  that  voluble  art  by  which,  at  that  day,  the 
workers  of  wonderful  cures  and  the  possessors  of  in 
fallible  elixirs  advertised  the  astonishing  virtues  of 
their  compounds — an  art  which  has  in  our  time  only 
changed  its  manner  of  utterance,  and  now  announces 
its  ridiculous  pretensions  in  every  newspaper  of  every 
part  of  our  land,  in  whole  columns  of  mountebank 
lies  and  quack  puffery. 

"  This  is  the  great  Doctor,"  said  Benedict  Leonard, 
who  now  acted  as  gentleman  usher,  "  and  he  has 
come  I  can't  tell  how  far,  to  see  who  was  ailing  in 
our  parts.  I  just  whispered  to  him,  dear  mother, 
what  a  famous  good  friend  you  were  to  all  sorts  of 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  237 

new  cures.  And  oh,  it  would  do  you  good  to  see 
what  a  box  of  crankums  he  has  in  the  hall  !  Yes, 
and  a  man  to  carry  it,  with  a  trumpet !  Blowing  and 
physicking  a  plenty  now,  to  them  that  like  it !  How 
the  man  bears  such  a  load,  I  can't  guess." 

"  Dobel  has  a  strong  back  and  a  steady  mule  for 
his  occasions,  my  pretty  poy,"  said  the  Doctor,  pat 
ting  the  heir  apparent  on  the  head,  with  a  fondness 
of  manner  that  sensibly  flattered  the  mother.  "  When 
we  would  do  goot,  master,  we  must  not  heed  de  trou 
ble  to  seek  dem  dat  stand  in  need  of  our  ministrations 
over  de  world." 

The  lady's  feeble  countenance  lit  up  with  a  sickly 
smile  as  she  remonstrated  with  the  boy.  "  Bridle  thy 
tongue,  Benedict,  nor  suffer  it  to  run  so  nimbly.  We 
have  heard,  Doctor,  something  of  your  fame,  and 
gladly  give  you  welcome." 

"  Noble  lady,"  replied  the  pharmacopolist,  "  J  am 
but  a  simple  and  poor  Doctor,  wid  such  little  fame  as 
it  has  pleased  Got  to  pestow  for  mine  enteavours  to 
miticate  de  distemperatures  and  maladies  and  infir 
mities  which  de  fall  of  man,  in  de  days  of  Adam,  de 
august  progenitor  of  de  human  races,  has  prought 
upon  all  his  children.  And  de  great  happiness  I  have 
had  to  make  many  most  wonderful  cures  in  de  pro 
vinces  of  America,  made  me  more  pold  to  hope  I 
might  pring  some  assuagement  and  relief  to  your 
ladyship,  who,  I  have  peen  told,  has  peen  grievously 
tormented  wid  perturbations  and  melancholies;  a 
very  common  affection  wid  honourable  ladies." 

«  Alack,  Doctor,  my  affections  come  from  causes 


238  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

which  are  beyond  the  reach  of  your  art,"  said  the 
lady  with  a  sigh.  "Still,  it  would  please  me  to  hear 
the  cures  you  speak  of.  You  have,  doubtless,  had 
great  experience?" 

"  You  shall  hear,  my  lady.  I  am  not  one  of  dat 
rabble  of  pretenders  what  travel  apout  de  world  to 
cry  up  and  magnify  dere  own  praises.  De  Hemel  is 
mij  getuige, — Heaven  is  my  chudge,  and  your  lady 
ship's  far  renowned  excellent  wisdom  forbids  dat  you 
should  be  imposed  upon  by  dese  cheats  and  impostors 
denominated — and  most  justly,  on  my  wort! — char 
latans  and  empirical  scaramouches.  De  veritable 
merit  in  dis  world  is  humble,  my  lady.  I  creep  rader 
in  de  dust,  dan  soar  in  de  clouts : — it  is  in  my  nature. 
Oders  shall  speak  for  me — not  myself." 

"  But  you  have  seen  the  world,  Doctor,  and  stu 
died,  and  served  in  good  families?" 

"  Your  ladyship  has  great  penetration.  I  have  al 
ways  lived  in  friendship  wid  worshipful  peoples.  De 
honourable  Captain  General  Anthony  Brockholls,  dc 
governor  of  de  great  province  of  New  York, — hah  ! 
dere  was  nopody  could  please  him  but  Doctor  Debor. 
Night  and  day,  my  lady,  for  two  years,  have  I  peen 
physicking  his  excellency  and  all  his  family : — de 
governor  is  subject  to  de  malady  of  a  pad  digestion 
and  crudities  which  gives  him  troublesome  dreams. 
I  have  studied  in  de  school  of  Leyden — dree  courses, 
until  I  could  find  no  more  to  learn;  and  den  I  have 
travelled  in  France,  Germany,  and  Italy,  where  I 
took  a  seat  in  de  great  University  of  Padua,  for  de 
penefit  of  de  lectures  of  dat  very  famous  doctor, 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  239 

Veslingius,  de  prefect,  your  ladyship  shall  under 
stand,  and  professor  of  botany,  a  most  rare  herbalist. 
And  dere  also  I  much  increased  and  enriched  my 
learning  under  de  wing  of  dat  astonishing  man,  de 
grave  and  profound  Doctor  Athelsteinus  Leonenas, 
de  expounder  of  de  great  secrets  of  de  veins  and 
nerves.  You  shall  chudge,  honourable  ladies,  what 
was  my  merit,  when  I  tell  you  de  University  would 
make  me  Syndicus  Artistarum,  only  dat  I  refused  so 
great  honour,  pecause  I  would  not  make  de  envy  of 
my  compeers.  Did  I  not  say  true  when  I  tell  you  it 
is  not  my  nature  to  soar  in  de  clouts?" 

"  Truly  the  Doctor  hath  greatly  slighted  his  fame," 
said  the  Lady  Maria  apart  to  her  kinswoman.  "I 
would  fain  know  what  you  have  in  your  pack." 

"  Worshipful  madam,  you  shall  soon  see,"  replied 
the  Doctor,  who  now  ordered  Dobel,  his  man,  into 
the  room.  "  Here,"  he  said,  as  he  pointed  to  the  dif 
ferent  parcels,  "are  balsamums,  panaceas,  and  elixirs. 
Dis  is  a  most  noted  alexipharmacum  against  quartan 
agues,  composed  of  many  roots,  herps  and  spices; 
dis  I  call  de  lampas  vitas,  an  astonishing  exhilirator 
and  promoter  of  de  goot  humours  of  de  mind,  and 
most  valuable  for  de  rare  gift  of  clear  sight  to  de  old, 
wid  many  oder  virtues  I  will  not  stop  to  mention. 
Dese  are  confections,  electuaries,  sirups,  conserves, 
ointments,  odoraments,  cerates,  and  gargarisms,  for 
de  skin,  for  de  stomach,  for  de  pruises  and  wounds, 
for  de  troat,  and  every  ting  pesides.  Ah!  here,  my 
lady,  is  de  great  lapour  of  my  life,  de  felicity  and 
royal  reward — as  I  may  say — of  all  my  studies :  it  is 


240  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

de  most  renowned  and  admired  and  never-to-be-esti 
mated  Medicamentum  Promethei,  which  has  done 
more  penefactions  dan  all  de  oder  simples  and  com 
pounds  in  de  whole  pharmacopeia  of  medicine.  Your 
ladyship  shall  take  but  one  half  of  dis  little  phial,  when 
you  will  say  more  for  its  praise  dan  I  could  speak 
widout  peing  accounted  a  most  windy,  hyperbolical 
and  monstrous  poaster — ha,  waarachtig!  I  will  speak 
noting.  Dat  wise  and  sagacious  and  sapient  man, 
de  great  governor  and  captain,  Antony  Brockholls, 
has  given  me  in  my  hand  so  much  as  five  ducatoons, 
— yes,  my  lady,  five  ducatoons  for  dat  little  glass, 
two  hours  after  a  dinner  of  cold  endives — Ik  spreek 
a  waarachtiglik — I  speak  you  truly,  my  lady :  and 
now  I  give  it  away  for  de  goot  of  de  world  and  mine 
own  glory,  at  no  more  dan  one  rix  dollar, — five  shil 
lings.  I  do  not  soar  in  de  clouts  ?" 

"  Can  you  describe  its  virtues,  Doctor  ?"  inquired 
the  lady. 

"  Mine  honoured  madam,  dey  are  apundant,  and  I 
shall  not  lie  if  I  say  countless  and  widout  number. 
First,  it  is  a  great  enemy  to  plack  choler,  and  to  all 
de  affections  of  de  spleen,  giving  sweet  sleep  to  de 
eyelids  dat  have  peen  kept  open  py  de  cares  and  suf 
ferings  and  anxieties  of  de  world.  It  will  dispel  de 
charms  of  witchcraft,  magic  and  sorcery,  and  turn 
away  de  stroke  of  de  evil  eye.  It  corroborates  de 
stomach  py  driving  off  de  sour  humours  of  de  pylo 
rus,  and  cleansing  de  diaphram  from  de  oppilations 
which  fill  up  and  torpefy  de  pipes  of  de  nerves.  And 
your  ladyship  shall  observe  dat,  as  nature  has  supplied 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  241 

and  adapted  particular  plants  and  herps  to  de  mala 
dies  of  de  several  parts  of  de  animal  pody,  as, — not 
to  be  tedious, — aniseeds  and  calamint  for  de  head, 
hysop  and  liquorice  for  de  lungs,  borage  for  de  heart, 
betony  for  de  spleen,  and  so  on  wid  de  whole  pody 
— dis  wonderful  medicament  contains  and  possesses 
in  itself  someting  of  all,  being  de  great  remedy,  anti 
dote  and  expeller  of  all  diseases,  such  as  vertigine,  fall 
ing  sickness,  cramps,  catalepsies,  lumbagos,  rheums, 
inspissations,  agitations,  hypocondrics,  and  tremor- 
cordies,  whedder  dey  come  of  de  head,  de  heart,  de 
liver,  de  vena  cava,  de  mesentery  or  de  pericardium, 
making  no  difference  if  dey  be  hot  or  cold,  dry  or 
moist,  or  proceeding  from  terrestrial  or  genethliacal 
influences,  evil  genitures,  or  vicious  aspects  of  de 
stars — it  is  no  matter — dey  all  vanish  pefore  de  great 
medicamentum.     You  must  know,  my  lady,  dis  pre 
cious  mixture  was  de  great  secret — de  arcanum  miri- 
ficabile — of  dat  wonderful  Arabian  physician  Ha- 
mech,  which  Paracelsus  went  mad  wid  cudgelling 
his  prains  to  find  out;  and  Avicenna  and  Galen  and 
Trismegistus   and   Moderatus   Columella   all  proke 
down  in  deir  search  to  discover  de  meaning  of  de 
learned  worts  in  which  Hamech  wrote  de  significa 
tion.     De  great  Swammerdam,  hoch!  what  would  he 
not  give  Doctor  Debor  for  dat  secret!     I  got  it,  my 
lady,  from  a  learned  Egyptian  doctor,  who  took  it 
from  an  eremite  of  Arabia  Felix.     It  was  not  my 
merit,  so  much  as  my  goot  fortune.     I  am  humble, 
my  lady,  and  do  not  poast,  but  speak  op  't  woord  van 
een  eerlyk  man." 
VOL.  L— 21 


242  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  He  discourses  beyond  our  depth,"  said  Lady  Bal 
timore,  greatly  puzzled  to  keep  pace  with  the  learned 
pretensions  of  the  quack ;  "  and  yet  I  dare  say  there 
is  virtue  in  these  medicines.  What  call  you  your  great 
compound,  Doctor?  I  have  forgotten  its  name." 

"De  Medicamentum  Promethei,"  replied  the  owner 
of  this  wonderful  treasure,  pleased  with  the  interest 
taken  in  his  discourse.  "  Your  ladyship  will  compre 
hend  from  your  reading  learned  pooks,  dat  Prome 
theus  was  a  great  headen  god,  what  stole  de  fire 
from  Heaven,  whereby  he  was  able  to  vivicate  and 
reluminate  de  decayed  and  worn-out  podies  of  de 
human  families,  and  in  a  manner  even  to  give  life  to 
de  images  of  clay;  which  is  all,  as  your  good  lady 
ship  discerns,  a  fabulous  narration,  or  pregnant  fable, 
as  de  scholars  insinuate.  And  moreover,  de  poets 
and  philosophers  say  dat  same  headen  god  was  very 
learned  in  de  knowledge  of  de  virtues  of  plants  and 
herps,  which  your  ladyship  will  remark  is  de  very 
consistence  and  identification  of  de  noble  art  of  phar 
macy.  Well  den,  dis  Prometheus,  my  lady — ha,  ha  ! 
— was  some  little  bit  of  a  juggler,  and  was  very  fond 
of  playing  his  legerdemains  wid  de  gods,  till  one  day 
de  great  Jupiter,  peing  angry  wid  his  jocularities  and 
his  tricks,  caused  him  to  be  chained  to  a  rock,  wid  a 
hungry  vulture  always  gnawing  his  liver;  and  dere 
he  was  in  dis  great  misery,  till  his  pody  pined  away 
so  small  dat  his  chain  would  not  hold  him,  and  den, 
aha!  he  showed  Jupiter  a  goot  pair  of  heels,  like  an 
honest  fellow,  and  set  apout  to  find  de  medicines 
what  should  renovate  and  patch  up  his  liver,  which 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  243 

you  may  be  sure  he  did,  my  lady,  in  a  very  little 
while.  Dis  again  is  anoder  fable,  to  signify  dat  he 
was  troubled  wid  a  great  sickness  in  dat  part  of  his 
pody.  Now,  my  lady,  see  how  well  de  name  signifi- 
cates  de  great  virtues  of  my  medicament,  which,  in 
de  first  place,  is  a  miraculous  restorer  of  health  and 
vigour  and  life  to  de  feeble  spirits  of  de  pody:  dere's 
de  fire.  Second,  it  is  composed  of  more  dan  one 
hundred  plants,  roots,  and  seeds,  most  delicately  dis 
tilled,  sublimed  and  suffumigated  in  a  limbeck  of  pure 
virgin  silver,  and  according  to  de  most  subtle  pro 
jections  of  alchemy:  and  dere  your  ladyship  shall 
see  de  knowledge  of  de  virtues  of  plants  and  de 
most  consummate  art  of  de  concoctions.  And  now 
for  de  last  significance  of  de  fable :  dis  medicament 
is  a  specific  of  de  highest  exaltation  for  de  cure, 
which  never  fails,  of  all  distemperatures  of  de  liver; 
not  to  say  dat  it  is  less  potent  to  overcome  and  de 
stroy  all  de  oder  diseases  I  have  mentioned,  and  many 
more.  Dere  you  see  de  whole  Medicamentum  Pro- 
methei,  which  I  sell  to  worshipful  peoples  for  one  rix 
dollar  de  phial.  Is  it  not  well  named,  my  lady,  and 
superlative  cheap?  I  give  it  away:  de  projection 
alone  costs  me  more  dan  I  ask  for  de  compound." 

"  The  name  is  curiously  made  out,"  said  the  lady, 
"  and  worthily,  if  the  virtue  of  the  compound  answer 
the  description.  But  your  cures,  you  have  not  yet 
touched  upon  them.  I  long  to  hear  what  notable 
feats  you  have  accomplished  in  that  sort." 

"  My  man  Dobel  shall  speak,"  replied  the  profes 
sor.  "  De  great  Heaven  forpid  I  should  pe  a  poaster 


244  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

to  de  ears  of  such  honourable  ladies !  Dobel,  re 
hearse  de  great  penefaction  of  de  medicament  upon 
de  excellent  and  discreet  and  virtuous  vrouw  of  Go 
vernor  Brockholls — Spreek  op  eene  verstaanbare 
wijze !" 

"Hier  ben  ik,"  answered  Dobel  to  this  summons, 
stepping  at  the  same  time  into  the  middle  of  the 
room  and  erecting  his  person  as  stiffly  as  a  grenadier 
on  parade :  "  Goot  beoplish !  dish  ish  de  drice  re 
nowned  und  ingomprbl  Doctor  Closh  Tebor " 

"Stop,  stop,  hou  stil!  halt — volslagen  gek!"  ex 
claimed  the  Doctor,  horrified  at  the  nature  of  the 
harangue  his  stupid  servitor  had  commenced,  and 
which  for  a  moment  threatened  to  continue,  in  spite 
of  the  violent  remonstrance  of  the  master,  Dobel  per 
severing  like  a  thing  spoken  from  rather  than  a  thing 
that  speaks — "Fool,  jack-pudding  !  you  pelieve  your 
self  on  a  bank,  up  on  a  stage,  before  de  rabble  rout? 
You  would  disgrace  me  before  honourable  and  noble 
ladies,  wid  your  tavern  howlings,  and  your  parkings 
and  your  pellowings  !  Out  of  de  door,  pegone  !" 

The  imperturbable  and  stolid  trumpeter,  having 
thus  unfortunately  incurred  his  patron's  ire,  slunk 
from  the  parlour,  utterly  at  a  loss  to  comprehend 
wherein  he  had  offended.  The  Doctor  in  the  mean 
while,  overwhelmed  with  confusion  and  mortified 
vanity,  bustled  towards  the  door  and  there  continued 
to  vent  imprecations  upon  the  unconscious  Dobel, 
which,  as  they  were  uttered  in  Low  Dutch,  were  al 
together  incomprehensible  to  the  company,  but  at  the 
same  time  were  sufficiently  ludicrous  to  produce  a 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  245 

hearty  laugh  from  the  Lady  Maria,  and  even  to  ex 
cite  a  partial  show  of  merriment  in  her  companion. 
Fortunately  for  the  Doctor,  in  the  midst  of  his  em 
barrassment,  a  messenger  arrived  to  inform  him  that 
his  presence  was  required  before  the  council,  in  ano 
ther  part  of  the  house,  which  order,  although  it  de 
prived  the  ladies  of  the  present  opportunity  of  learn 
ing  the  great  efficacy  of  the  Medicamentum  Prome- 
thei  in  the  case  of  the  wife  of  Governor  Brockholls, 
gave  the  Doctor  a  chance  of  recovering  his  self-pos 
session  by  a  retreat  from  the  apartment.  So,  after 
an  earnest  entreaty  to  be  forgiven  for  the  inexpert 
address  of  his  man,  and  a  promise  to  resume  his 
discourse  on  a  future  occasion,  he  betook  himself, 
under  the  guidance  of  the  messenger,  to  the  chamber 
in  which  the  council  were  convened. 

Here  sat  the  Proprietary,  and  Philip  Calvert,  the 
Chancellor,  who  were  now,  with  five  or  six  other 
gentlemen,  engaged  in  the  transaction  of  business 
of  grave  import. 

Some  depredations  had  been  recently  committed 
upon  the  English  by  the  Indians  inhabiting  the  upper 
regions  of  the  Susquehanna, — especially  by  the  Sin- 
niquoes,  who,  in  an  incursion  against  the  Piseatta- 
ways,  a  friendly  tribe  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Mary's, 
had  advanced  into  the  low  country,  where  they  had 
plundered  the  dwellings  of  the  settlers  and  even  mur 
dered  two  or  three  families.  The  victims  of  these 
outrages  happened  to  be  Protestants,  and  Fendall's 
party  availed  themselves  of  the  circumstance,  to 
excite  the  popular  jealousy  against  Lord  Baltimore 
21* 


246  KOB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

by  circulating  the  report  that  th«se  murders  were 
committed  by  Papists  in  disguise. 

What  was  therefore  but  an  ordinary  though  fright 
ful  incident  of  Indian  hostility,  was  thus  exaggerated 
into  a  crime  of  deep  malignity,  peculiarly  calculated 
still  more  to  embitter  the  party  exasperations  of  the 
day.  This  consideration  rendered  it  a  subject  of 
eager  anxiety,  on  the  part  of  the  Council,  to  procure 
the  fullest  evidence  of  the  hostile  designs  of  the  In 
dians,  and  thus  not  only  to  enable  the  province  to 
adopt  the  proper  measure  for  its  own  safety,  but  also 
confute  the  false  report  which  had  imputed  to  the 
Catholics  so  absurd  and  atrocious  a  design.  A  tra 
veller  by  the  name  of  Launcelot  Sakcl  happened,  but 
two  or  three  days  before  the  present  meeting  of  the 
Council,  to  arrive  at  the  port,  where  he  put  afloat  the 
story  of  an  intended  invasion  of  the  province  by  cer 
tain  Indians  of  New  York,  belonging  to  the  tribes  of 
the  Five  Nations,  and  gave  as  his  authority  for  this 
piece  of  news  a  Dutch  doctor,  whom  he  had  fallen 
in  with  on  the  Delaware,  where  he  left  him  selling 
nostrums,  and  who,  he  affirmed,  was  in  a  short  space 
to  appear  at  St.  Mary's.  This  story,  with  many  par 
ticulars,  was  communicated  to  the  Proprietary,  which 
induced  the  order  to  summon  the  Doctor  to  attend  the 
council  as  soon  after  his  arrival  as  possible.  In  obe 
dience  to  this  summons,  our  worthy  was  now  in  the 
presence  of  the  high  powers  of  the  province,  not  a 
little  elated  with  the  personal  consequence  attached 
to  his  coming,  as  well  as  the  very  favourable  recep 
tion  he  had  obtained  from  the  ladies  of  the  household. 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  247 

This  consequence  was  even  enhanced  by  the:suitc  of 
inquisitive  domestics,  who  followed,  at  a  respectful 
distance,  his  movement  towards  the  council  chamber, 
and  who,  even  there,  though  not  venturing  to  enter, 
were  gathered  into  a  group  which  from  the  outside 
of  the  door  commanded  a  view  of  the  party  within: 
in  the  midst  of  these  Willy  of  the  Flats  was  by  no 
means  an  unconspicuous  personage. 

Lord  Baltimore  received  the  itinerant  physician 
with  that  bland  and  benignant  accost  which  was  ha 
bitual  to  him,  and  proceeded  with  brief  ceremony  to 
interrogate  him  as  to  the  purport  of  his  visit.  The 
answers  were  given  with  a  solemn  self-complacency, 
not  unmixed  with  that  shrewdness  which  was  an 
essential  attribute  to  the  success  of  the  ancient  quack 
salver.  He  described  himself  as  Doctor  Claus  Debor, 
••-*  a  native  of  Holland,  a. man  of  travel,  enjoying  no 
mean  renown  in  New  York,  and,  for  two  years  past, 
a  resident  of  Albany.  His  chief  design  in  his  pre 
sent  journey,  he  represented  to  be  to  disseminate  the 
blessings  of  his  great  medicament;  whereupon  he 
was  about  to  launch  forth  into  an  exuberant  tone  of 
panegyric,  and  had,  in  fact,  already  produced  a  smile 
at  the  council  board  by  some  high  wrought  phrases 
expressive  of  his  incredible  labour  in  the  quest  of  his 
great  secret,  when  the  Proprietary  checked  his  career 
by  a  timely  admonition. 

"  Ay,  we  do  not  seek  to  know  thy  merits  as  a 
physician,  nor  doubt  the  great  virtue  of  thy  drugs, 
worthy  Doctor;  but  in  regard  thereto,  give  thee  free 
permission  to  make  what  profit  of  them  you  reason- 


2<t8  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

ably  may  in  the  province.  Still,  touching  this  license, 
I  must  entreat  you,  in  consideration  that  my  Lady 
Baltimore  has  weak  nerves,  and  cannot  endure  rude 
noises,  to  refrain  from  blowing  thy  trumpet  within 
hearing  of  this  mansion  :  besides,  our  people,"  he 
added,  looking  archly  towards  the  group  of  domes 
tics,  some  of  whom  had  now  edged  into  the  apart 
ment,  "  are  somewhat  faint-hearted  at  such  martial 
sounds." 

"  By  my  troth  !"  said  Willy,  in  a  half  whisper  to 
his  companions  in  the  entry;  "  my  Lord  hath  put  it 
to  him  for  want  of  manners ! — I  thought  as  much 
would  come  from  his  tantararas.  Listen,  you  shall 
hear  more  anon.  Whist ! — the  Doctor  puts  on  a  face 
— and  will  have  his  say,  in  turn." 

"  Your  very  goot  and  admirable  Lordship,  mis 
translates  de  significance  of  my  visit,"  said  the  Doc 
tor,  in  his  ambitious  phrase  ;  "  for  although  I  most 
heartily  tank  your  Lordship's  bounty  for  de  permis 
sion  to  sell  my  inestimable  medicament,  and  which — 
Got  geve  het — I  do  hope  shall  much  advantage  my 
lady  wid  her  weak  nerfs  and  her  ailments, — still,  I 
come  to  opey  your  most  honourable  Lordship's  sum 
mons,  which  I  make  pold  to  pelieve  is  concerned  wid 
state  matters  pefore  de  high  and  noble  council." 

"  Well,  and  bravely  spoken,"  said  Willy;  "  and 
with  a  good  face ! — the  Doctor  holds  his  own,  mas 
ters." 

"  We  would  hear  what  you  can  tell  touching  a 
rumour  brought  to  us  by  one  Master  Launcelot 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  249 

Sakel,  whom  you  saw  at  Christina  Fort,"  said  the 
Proprietary. 

"  There  is  the  point  of  the  matter,"  whispered 
Willy,  "all  in  an  egg  shell." 

"Dere  is  weighty  news,  my  Lord,"  replied  the 
Doctor.  "  I  have  goot  reason  to  pelieve  dat  de  Nor- 
dern  Indians  of  New  York  are  meditating  and  con 
cocting  mischief  against  your  Lordship's  province." 

"  Have  a  care  to  the  truth  of  your  report,"  said 
Colonel  Talbot,  rising  from  his  seat :  "  it  may  be 
worse  for  you  if  you  be  found  to  trifle -with  us  -by 
passing  current  a  counterfeit  story,  churned  into 
consistence  in  your  own  brain,  out  of  the  froth  of 
idle,  way-side  gossipings.  We  have  a  statute 
against  the  spreaders  of  false  news." 

"  Heigh,  heigh  ! — listen  to  that,"  said  Willy,  nudg 
ing  one  of  the  crowd  over  whose  shoulders  he  was 
peering  into  the  room.  "  There  's  an  outcome  with 
a  witness  ! — there  's  a  flariconade  that  shall  make  the 
Doctor  flutter !" 

"  If  I  am  mendacious,"  replied  the  Doctor,  "  dat 
is,  if  I  am  forgetful  of  mine  respect  for  trute,  dese 
honourable  gentlemens  shall  teal  wid  me  as  a  lying 
pusy  pody  and  pragmatical  tale-bearer.  Your  Lord 
ship  shall  hear.  It  is  put  a  fortnight  ago,  when  I 
was  making  ready  for  dis  journey,  in  Alpany,  I 
chanced  to  see  in  de  town  so  many  as  two  score, 
perhaps  fifty  Indians,  who  were  dere  trading  skins 
for  powder  and  shot.  Dey  reported  demselves  to  be 
Sinniquoes,  and  said  dey  came  to  talk  wid  de  tribes 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

i'urder  back,  to  get  dcir  help  to  fight  against  de  Pis- 
cattaways." 

"  Indeed  ! — there  is  probability  in  that  report," 
said  the  Proprietary :  "  well,  and  how  had  they  sped? 
what  was  their  success  ?" 

"  Some  of  de  Five  Nations, — I  forget  de  name  of 
de  tribe,  my  Lord — it  might  pe  de  Oneidas — dey  told 
us,  promised  to  march  early  de  next  season  ; — in 
dere  own  worts,  when  de  sap  pegin  to  rise." 

"  In  what  force,  did  they  say?" 

»"  In  large  force,  my  Lord.  De  Piscattaways,  dey 
said,  were  fronts  to  my  Lord  and  de  English, — and 
so  dey  should  make  clean  work  wid  red  and  white." 

"  What  more  ?" 

"  Dey  signified  dat  dey  should  have  great  help  from 
de  Delawares  and  Susquehannocks,  who,  as  I  could 
make  it  out,  wanted  to  go  to  war  wid  your  Lordship's 
peoples  at  once." 

"  True  ;  and  they  have  done  so.  The  insolencies 
of  these  tribes  are  already  as  much  as  we  can  endure. 
Did  they  find  it  easy  to  purchase  their  powder  and 
lead  in  Albany?  I  should  hope  that  traffic  would  not 
be  allowed." 

"  My  Lord,  de  traders  do  not  much  stop,  when 
dey  would  turn  a  penny,  to  reckon  who  shall  get  de 
loss,  so  dey  get  de  profit.  Dese  same  Indians  I  saw 
afterwards  in  de  town  of  New  York,  ti-ading  in  de 
same  way  wid  Master  Grimes,  a  merchant." 

"  Mischief  will  come  of  this,"  said  the  Proprie 
tary,  "  unless  it  be  speedily  taken  in  hand.  What 


ROB  OP  THE  BOWL.  25 1 

reason  was  given  by  the  Northern  Indians  for  joining 
in  this  scheme  ?" 

"I  tink  it  was  said,"  replied  the  Doctor,  "dat 
your  Lordship  had  not  made  your  treaties  wid  dem, 
nor  sent  dem  presents,  dese  two  years  past." 

"  True,"  interposed  the  Chancellor ;  "  we  have 
failed  in  that  caution — although  I  have  more  than 
once  reminded  your  Lordship  of  its  necessity." 

"  It  shall  not  be  longer  delayed,"  replied  the  Pro 
prietary.  "  You  are  sure,  Doctor  Debor,  these  were 
Sinniquoes  you  saw  ?" 

"  I  only  know  dem  by  dere  own  report — I  never 
heard  de  name  pefore.  My  man  Dobel  heard  dem 
as  well  as  me;  wid  your  Lordship's  permission  I 
shall  ask  him,"  said  the  Doctor,  as  he  went  to  the 
door  and  directed  some  of  the  domestics  to  call  the 
man  Dobel. 

It  happened  that  Dobel,  after  his  disgrace,  had 
kept  apart  from  the  servants  of  the  household,  and 
was  now  lamenting  his  misfortune  in  a  voluntary 
exile  on  the  green  at  the  front  door,  where  Willy  of 
the  Flats  having  hastened  to  seek  him,  gave  him  the 
order  to  appear  before  the  council. 

"  Dobel,  you  are  a  made  man,"  he  said  by  way 
of  encouragement;  "your  master  wants  you  to. 
speak  to  their  honours :  and  the  honourable  council 
want  to  hear  you,  Dobel ;  and  so  does  his  Lordship. 
Hold  up  thy  head,  Dobel,  and  speak  for  thy  man 
hood — boldly  and  out,  like  a  buckler  man." 

"  Ya,  ya,"  replied  Dobel,  whose  acquirements  in 
the  English  tongue  were  limited  to  his  professional 


252  ROB  Of  THE  BOWL. 

advertisement  of  Doctor  Debor's  fame,  and  a  few 
slender  fragments  of  phrases  in  common  use.  Thus 
admonished  by  Willy,  he  proceeded  doggedly  to  the 
Council  Chamber,  where  as  soon  as  he  entered,  the 
Proprietary  made  a  motion  to  him  with  his  hand  to 
approach  the  table,— which  Dobel  interpreting  into 
an  order  to  deliver  his  sentiments,  he  forthwith  be 
gan  in  a  loud  voice — 

"  Goot  beoplish !  dish  is  de  drice  renowned  und 
ingomprbl  Doctor " 

Before  he  had  uttered  the  name,  the  Doctor's  hand 
was  thrust  across  Dobel's  mouth  and  a  volley  of 
Dutch  oaths  rapped  into  his  ears,  at  a  rate  which  ut 
terly  confounded  the  poor  trumpeter,  who  was  forci 
bly  expelled  from  the  room,  almost  by  a  general 
order.  When  quiet  was  restored, — for  it  may  be 
imagined  the  scene  was  not  barren  of  laughter, — the 
Doctor  made  a  thousand  apologies  for  the  stupidity 
of  his  servant,  and  in  due  time  received  permission 
to  retire,  having  delivered  all  that  he  was  able  to 
say  touching  the  matter  in  agitation  before  the  Pro 
prietary. 

The  Council  were  for  some  time  after  this  inci 
dent  engaged  in  the  consideration  of  the  conspiracy 
•  against  the  Proprietary,  of  which  new  evidences 
were  every  day  coming  to  light ;  and  it  was  now  re 
solved  that  the  matter  should  be  brought  into  the 
notice  of  the  judicial  authority  at  an  early  day. 

The  only  circumstance  which  I  have  further  occa 
sion  to  notice,  related  to  a  diversion  which  was  not 
unusual  at  that  day  amongst  the  inhabitants  of  the 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  253 

province,  and  which  required  the  permission  of  the 
Council.  It  was  brought  into  debate  by  Colonel 
Talbot. 

"  Stark  Whittle,  the  swordsman,"  he  said,  "  has 
challenged  Sergeant  Travers  to  play  a  prize  at  such 
weapons  as  they  may  select — and  the  Sergeant  ac 
cepts  the  challenge,  provided  it  meet  the  pleasure  of 
his  Lordship  and  the  Council.  I  promised  to  be  a 
patron  to  the  play." 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  choose,"  said  the  Proprietary. 
"  This  martial  sport  has  won  favour  with  our  people. 
Let  it  be  so  ordered  that  it  tend  not  to  the  breach  of 
the  peace.  We  commit  it  to  your  hands,  Colonel 
Talbot."  The  Council,  assented  and  the  necessary 
order  was  recorded  on  the  journal. 


VOL.  I.— 22 


254  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 


CHAPTER  XVIf. 


Some  do  call  me  Jack,  sweetheart, 

And  some  do  call  me  Jille : 
But  when  I  come  to  the  king's  faire  courte, 

They  call  me  Wilfulle  Wille. 

THE  KNIGHT  AND  SHEPHERD'S  DAUGHTER. 


THE  Skipper's  necessary  affairs  in  the  port  engag 
ed  him  all  the  day  succeeding  that  of  his  interview 
with  father  Pierre,  and  therefore  prevented  him  from 
making  his  intended  visit  to  the  Cripple  of  St.  Je 
rome's.  When  the  next  morning  broke  upon  him, 
the  early  bell  of  St.  Mary's  Chapel  informed  him  of 
the  Sabbath, — a  day  seldom  distinguished  in  his  ca 
lendar  from  the  rest  of  the  week.  It  was,  however, 
not  unheeded  now,  as  it  suggested  the  thought  that 
an  opportunity  might  be  afforded  him  to  gain  a  sight 
of  Blanche  Warden — and  even,  perchance  an  inter 
view — at  the  service  of  the  Chapel.  In  this  hope  he 
at  once  relinquished  his  design  of  going  to  St.  Je 
rome's,  at  least  until  after  the  morning  offices  of  the 
church  were  performed.  Accordingly,  at  an  hour 
somewhat  in  advance  of  the  general  attendance  of 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  255 

the  congregation,  the  Skipper  was  seen  loitering  in 
the  purlieus  of  the  Chapel,  where  he  marked  with  an 
inquisitive  but  cautious  watchfulness  the  various 
groups  that  were  coming  to  their  devotions.  When 
at  length  his  strained  vision  was  able  to  descry  a 
cavalcade  approaching  from  the  direction  of  St.  Ini- 
goe's,  and  he  discerned  the  figures  of  Albert  Ver- 
heyden  and  Blanche  Warden  dallying  far  in  the  rear 
of  the  Collector  and  his  daughter  Alice,  their  horses 
almost  at  a  walk,  and  themselves  manifestly  engross 
ed  in  an  earnest  conference,  he  turned  hastily  to 
wards  the  church  and  with  a  compressed  lip  and 
knitted  brow,  ascended  the  stair  and  threw  himself 
into  an  obscure  corner  of  the  little  gallery  which 
looked  upon  the  altar.  Here  he  remained  a  sullen 
and  concealed  observer  of  the  rites  of  the  temple, — 
his  bosom  rankling  with  uncharitable  thoughts,  and 
his  countenance  clouded  with  feelings  the  most  un- 
genial  to  the  lowly  self-abasement  and  contrition  of 
heart  which  breathed  in  every  word  of  the  solemn 
ritual  that  addressed  his  ear. 

The  Collector's  family  entered  the  place  of  wor 
ship.  The  Secretary  still  accompanied  Blanche, 
knelt  beside  her  in  prayer,  opened  her  missal  to  the 
various  services  of  the  day,  and  tendered  the  custo 
mary  offices  of  familiar  gallantry  common  to  such 
an  occasion,  with  an  unrebuked  freedom  :  all  this  in 
the  view  of  the  Skipper,  whose  eye  flashed  with  a 
vengeful  fire,  as  he  gazed  upon  the  man  to  whom  he 
attributed  the  wrong  he  deemed  himself  to  have  suf 
fered  in  his  recent  interview  with  the  maiden.  The 


256  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

service  ended  and  the  throng  was  retiring,  when 
Cocklescraft  planted  himself  on  the  outside  of  the 
door.  His  purpose  was  to  exchange  even  but  a  word 
with  the  daughter  of  the  Collector — at  least  to  win  a 
recognition  of  his  presence  by  a  smile,  a  nod,  the 
smallest  courtesy, — so  dear  to  the  heart  of  a  lover. 
She  came  at  last,  loiteringly  with  father  Pierre  and 
Albert  Verheyden.  Perhaps  she  did  not  see  Cockles- 
craft  in  the  shade  of  the  big  elm,  even  although  her 
father's  weaker  sight  had  recognised  him,  and  the  old 
man  had  stepped  aside  to  shake  his  hand.  She  passed 
on  to  her  horse  without  once  turning  her  head  towards 
him.  The  Skipper  abruptly  sprang  from  the  Collec 
tor  to  help  her  into  her  saddle,  but  Blanche  had 
already  Albert's  hand,  and  in  a  moment  was  in  her 
seat.  Cocklescraft's  proffered  service  was  acknow 
ledged  by  a  bow  and  only  a  casual  word.  The  Se 
cretary  in  an  instant  mounted  his  steed,  and,  with 
the  maiden,  set  forth  on  their  ride  at  a  brisk  gallop. 
The  Brother  of  the  Coast  forgetful  of  his  usual  cir 
cumspection,  stood  with  folded  arms  and  moody 
visage,  looking  darkly  upon  them  as  they  disappeared, 
and  muttering  half-audible  ejaculations  of  wrath. 
He  was,  after  an  interval,  roused  from  his  abstraction 
by  the  hand  of  father  Pierre  gently  laid  upon  his 
shoulder : 

"  You  have  forgotten  the  censer  of  virgin  silver, 
you  promised  to  offer  at  this  shrine,"  said  the  priest 
in  a  grave  voice.  "  It  was  to  be  an  offering  for  the 
sin  of  a  wayward  spirit  of  anger.  Beware,  son,  that 
thou  dost  no  wrong  to  a  brother." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  257 

"  I  have  not  forgotten  the  censer,  holy  father," 
returned  the  Skipper,  with  an  ineffectual  effort  to 
assume  his  usual  equanimity.  "  I  have  only  deferred 
the  offering — until  I  may  give  it,"  he  added  in  a 
stern  voice — "  with  an  honest  conscience.  Thou 
shall  have  it  anon.  I  have  business  now  that  stands 
in  the  way: — good  morning  to  you,  father."  And 
with  these  words  he  walked  rapidly  away. 

In  the  afternoon  Cocklescraft  was  seen  plying  his 
way  from  the  quay  in  a  small  boat,  attended  by  two 
seamen  who  rowed  him  to  a  point  some  five  or  six 
miles  below  the  town,  where  he  landed,  and  set  out 
on  foot  for  St.  Jerome's. 

On  the  following  morning,  whilst  the  dawn  yet 
cast  its  grey  hue  over  the  face  of  the  land,  two  men, 
in  shaggy  frize  dresses,  arrived  at  the  hut  of  the 
Cripple.  They  rode  on  rough,  little  beach-ponies, 
each  provided  with  a  sack.  The  mastiff  bitch 
eyed  the  visiters  with  a  malign  aspect  from  her  sta 
tion  beneath  the  door  sill,  and  by  her  low  mutter- 
ings  warned  them  against  a  too  near  approach. 
They  accordingly  stood  at  bay. 

"  Curse  on  the  slut !"  said  one ;  "  she  has  the  eye 
of  a  very  devil ; — it  might  not  be  safe  to  defy  her. 
Not  a  mouse  is  stirring: — the  old  Trencherman  is  as 
still  as  his  bowl.  Were  it  safe,  think  you,  to  wake 
him  ?" 

"  Why  not  ?"  demanded  the  other.     "  He  will  be 

in  a  passion,  and  threaten,  at  first,  with  his  weapon  ; 

— but  when  he  knows  we  come  to  trade  with  him,  I 

will  warrant  he  butters  his  wrinkles  as  smoothly  with 

22* 


258  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

a  smile  as  you  could  desire.  Strike  your  staff, 
Nichol,  against  the  door." 

"  The  fiend  fetch  me,  if  I  venture  so  near  as  to 
strike,  with  that  bitch  at  the  step.  Try  it  thyself, 
Perry  Cadger." 

"  Nay,  and  it  comes  to  that,  I  will  rouse  him  in 
another  fashion,"  said  the  other. 

"Master  Swale — Master  Robert  Swale — Halloo 
—halloo  !" 

"  Rob,  man,  awake, — turn  out  for  thy  friends  !" 
exclaimed  the  first.  The  growl  of  the  mastiff  bitch 
was  now  changed  into  a  hoarse  bark.  Some  stir 
was  heard  from  the  inside  of  the  hut,  and,  in  a  mo 
ment  afterwards,  the  door  was  unbolted  and  brought 
sufficiently  open  to  allow  the  uncouth  head  and  half 
dressed  figure  of  the  Cripple  to  be  seen.  A  short 
blunderbuss  was  levelled  directly  in  the  face  of  the 
visitors,  whilst  an  ungracious  repulse  was  screamed 
out  in  a  voice  husky  with  rage. 

"  Begone,  you  misbegotten  thieves  !  What  makes 
you  here  1  Do  you  think  I  am  an  ale  draper  to  take 
in  every  strolling  runagate  of  the  night.  Begone,  or 
by  my  body,  I  will  baptize  you  with  a  sprinkling  of 
lead  !" 

"  In  God's  name,  Robert  Swale,"  exclaimed  the 
first  speaker,  "  turn  thy  weapon  aslant !  Thou  mayst 
do  a  deed  of  mischief  upon  thy  friends.  We  are 
Nichol  Upstake,  and  Peregrine  Cadger — friends, 
Rob, — friends,  who  have  come  to  drive  bargains  to 
thy  profit.  Open  your  eyes,  Master — put  on  your 
glasses — we  have  gold  in  pocket,  man." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  259 

"Ha,  ha,  ha!"  chuckled  the  tenant  of  the  hut; 
"  thou  art  astir,  cronies!  Ha,  ha!  I  took  ye  for 
land  loupers — sharks.  By  the  Five  Wounds,  I  knew 
ye  not !  Have  patience  a  space  and  I  will  open." 

When  the  Cripple  had  dressed  himself  he  came 
swinging  forth  in  his  bowl,  and  passing  beyond  the 
curtilage  of  his  dwelling  went  to  the  beach,  whither 
he  was  followed  by  his  two  visitors  who  had  now 
dismounted  from  their  ponies.  Here  he  halted,  and 
taking  off  his  cap,  exposed  his  bare  head  and  loose 
white  tresses  to  the  morning  breeze  which  came 
somewhat  sharply  from  the  water. 

"  Soh !"  he  exclaimed,  "  there  is  refreshment  in 
that !  It  is  my  custom  to  expel  these  night-cap  vapours 
with  the  good  salt  water  breeze:  that  is  a  commo 
dity  that  may  reach  the  province  without  paying 
duty  to  his  Lordship  !  a  cheap  physic,  a  cheap  physic, 
masters.  Now  what  scent  art  thou  upon,  Nichol 
Upstake?  Perry  Cadger,  man  of  sarsnet  and  gro- 
gram,  I  guess  thy  errand." 

"  In  truth,  Robert  Swale,"  said  Upstake 

"No  Robert  Swale,  nor  Master  Robert  Swale," 
testily  interrupted  the  owner  of  the  cabin :  "  none  of 
your  worshipful  phrase  for  me !  Thou  art  but  a 
shallow  hypocrite  to  affect  this  reverence.  Rob  of 
the  Bowl  is  the  best  I  get  from  you  when  your  long 
ings  are  satisfied  ;  ay,  and  it  is  said  with  a  curl  of 
your  lip;  and  you  make  merry  over  my  un worthiness 
with  your  pot-fellows.  So,  be  honest,  and  give  me 
plain  Rob;  I  seek  no  flattery." 


260  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  You  do  us  wrong,  good  Master  Rob,"  interposed 
Peregrine  Cadger 

"  To  your  needs,"  said  Rob,  sternly :  "  Speak  in 
the  way  of  your  trade  !  You  have  no  voice,  nor  I 
ear  for  aught  else." 

"  Then,  in  brief,  said  Nichol  Upstake,  "  I  would 
fain  know  if  you  could  supply  me  with  Antigua  to 
day,  or  aqua  vitas,  I  care  not  which?" 

"  If  such  a  thing  might  be,  where  wouldst  thou 
take  it,  Nichol  ?"  inquired  Rob. 

"  To  Warrington  on  the  Cliffs." 

"  Ay,  to  Warrington  on  the  Cliffs ;  good  ! — and 
warily  to  be  borne  ?  no  hawk's  eye  upon  thy  path  ?" 

"  It  shall  be  by  night,  if  you  like  it,"  said  the  dealer. 

"  Well,  well !"  replied  the  Cripple  ;  "  I  can  give 
you  a  little  of  both,  master :  a  flagon  or  so ;  some 
three  or  four.  My  hut  is  small,  and  hath  a  scant 
cellar.  But  the  money  in  hand,  Nichol  Upstake ! 
Good  gold — full  weight — and  a  fair  price,  too,  mark 
you  !  I  must  have  a  trifle  above  my  last  market — ten 
shillings  the  gallon  on  the  brandy,  and  two  more  for 
the  Antigua.  Leave  thy  kegs,  and  see  me  again  at 
sunset.  The  money  in  hand !  the  money  in  hand ! 
there  is  no  trust  in  my  commonwealth." 

"  It  shall  be  so,"  said  Nichol. 

"  And  now,  Master  Cadger,  what  wilt?  You  have 
a  scheme  to  cozen  dame  and  wench  with  gewgaws; 
I  see  it  in  thine  eye :  and  you  will  swear  upon  book 
and  cross,  if  need  be,  they  have  stood  you  a  wondrous 
hard  purchase,  even  at  the  full  three  hundred  per 
cent,  excess  you  purpose  to  exact  above  the  cost ; 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  261 

and  all  the  while  it  has  come  out  of  Rob's  warehouse 
as  cheap  as  beggars'  alms:  Ha,  ha,  ha!  This  world 
thrives  on  honesty  !  it  grows  fat  on  virtue  !  knavery 
only  starves !  Your  rogue  in  rags,  what  hath  he  but 
his  deserts !  Let  him  repent  and  turn  virtuous,  like 
you  and  me,  Perry,  and  his  torn  cloak  and  threadbare 
doublet  shall  be  fenced  and  lined  to  defy  all  weathers. 
Hark  ye,  master,  I  have  camblets,  satins,  and  velvets, 
cambric,  and  lawn  for  thee — choice  commodities  all. 
Thou  shalt  see  them  in  the  hut." 

"  How  came  you  by  so  rich  an  inventory,  Rob  V 

The  Cripple  turned  a  fierce  eye  upon  the  mercer, 
and  with  one  glance  conveyed  his  meaning,  as  he 
touched  the  handle  of  his  dagger  and  said  in  a  low 
tone, 

"  Dost  forget  the  covenant  between  us?  Peregrine 
Cadger  you  know  I  brook  no  such  question." 

The  mercer  stood  for  a  moment  abashed,  and  then 
replied :  "  An  idle  word,  Master  Rob,  which  meant 
no  harm :  as  you  say,  honesty  will  only  thrive. 
You  shall  find  never  a  knave  that  is  not  some  part 
fool.  I  will  into  the  hut  to  look  at  the  wares." 

"  Do  so,"  said  the  Cripple.  "  You  will  find  them 
in  the  box  behind  the  door.  There  is  need  that  you 
leave  me,  so  follow  him,  Nichol.  I  have  sudden 
business,  masters,  which  it  does  not  concern  you  to 
witness.  When  you  have  seen  what  you  desire,  de 
part  quickly  ;  leave  your  sacks  and  come  back  at  sun 
set.  I  charge  you,  have  a  care  that  your  eyes  do 
not  wander  towards  my  motions.  You  know  me,  and 
know  that  I  have  sentinels  upon  your  steps  who  have 


262  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

power  to  sear  your  eye-balls  if  you  but  steal  one  for 
bidden  glance :  away  !" 

The  dealers  withdrew  into  the  hut,  wondering  at 
the  abrupt  termination  of  their  interview,  and  im 
plicitly  confiding  in  the  power  of  the  Cripple  to  make 
good  his  threat. 

"The  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us  !"  said  the  mercer, 
in  a  smothered  voice,  after  they  had  entered  the 
door;  "  the  Cripple  hath  matters  on  hand  which  it 
were  not  for  our  good  to  pry  into.  Pray  you,  Nichol, 
let  us  make  our  survey  and  do  his  bidding,  by  setting 
forth  at  once.  1  am  not  the  man  to  give  him  of 
fence." 

The  cause  of  this  unexpected  dismissal  of  the 
visiters  was  the  apparition  of  Cocklescraft,  whose 
figure,  in  the  doubtful  light  of  the  morning,  was  seen 
by  Rob  at  a  distance,  on  the  profile  of  the  bank  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Wizard's  Chapel.  He  had 
halted  upon  observing  the  Cripple  in  company  with 
strangers,  and  had  made  a  signal  which  was  suffi 
ciently  intelligible  to  the  person  to  whom  it  was  ad 
dressed,  to  explain  his  wish  to  meet  him. 

Rob,  having  thus  promptly  rid  himself  of  his  com 
pany,  now  swung  on  his  short  crutches,  almost  as 
rapidly  as  a  good  walker  could  have  got  over  the 
ground,  towards  the  spot  where  the  Buccaneer  had 
halted. 

"  Steer  your  cockleshell  there  to  the  right,  old 
worm !"  said  the  Freebooter,  as  Rob  came  opposite 
to  the  bank  on  which  he  stood.  "  You  shall  find  it 
easier  to  come  up  by  the  hollow." 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  263 

"  The  plagues  of  a  foul  conscience  light  on  thee !" 
replied  the  Cripple,  desisting  from  farther  motion, 
and  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  brow.  "  Is  it 
more  seemly  I  should  waste  my  strength  on  the  fruit 
less  labour  to  clamber  up  that  rough  slope,  or  thou 
come  down  to  me  ?  You  mock  me,  sirrah !"  he  added, 
with  an  expression  of  sudden  anger;  "  Thou  know'st 
I  cannot  mount  the  bank." 

"  Thou  know'st  I  can  drag  thee  up,  reverend  frag 
ment  of  a  sinful  man  !"  returned  Cocklescraft,  jocu 
larly ;  "  yes,  and  with  all  thy  pack  of  evil  passions  at 
thy  back,  besides.  Would  you  hold  our  meeting  in 
sight  from  the  window  of  the  hut,  where  you  have 
just  lodged  a  pair  of  your  busy  meddlers — your  bump 
kin  cronies  in  the  way  of  trade  1  It  was  such  as  these 
that,  but  a  few  nights  ago,  set  his  Lordship's  hounds 
upon  our  tracks.  Come  up,  man,  without  farther 
parley." 

The  Cripple's  fleeting  anger  changed,  as  usual,  to 
that  bitter  smile  and  chuckle  with  which  he  was  wont 
to  return  into  a  tractable  mood,  as  he  said, — 

"A  provident  rogue!  a  shrewd  imp!  He  has  his 
instinct  of  mischief  so  keen  that  his  forecast  never 
sleepeth.  The  devil  hath  made  him  a  perfect  scholar. 
There,  Dickon,  give  me  thy  hand,"  he  added,  when 
he  came  to  the  steep  ascent  which  his  machine  of 
locomotion  was  utterly  inadequate  to  surmount. 
"  Give  me  thy  hand,  good  cut-throat.  Help  me  to 
the  top." 

The  muscular  seaman,  instead  of  extending  his 
hand  to  his  companion,  descended  the  bank,  and 


263  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

taking  the  bowl  and  its  occupant  upon  his  shoulder, 
strode  upward  to  the  even  ground,  and  deposited  his 
load  with  as  little  apparent  effort  as  if  he  had  been 
dealing  with  a  truss  of  hay. 

"  Bravely !"  ejaculated  Rob,  when  he  was  set  down. 
"I  scarce  could  have  done  better  in  my  best  day. 
Now,  what  set  thee  to  jogging  so  early,  Dickon  ? 
Where  dost  thou  come  from?" 

"  From  the  Chapel,"  replied  the  other.  "  I  came 
there  from  the  Port  last  night,  express  to  see  you ; 
and  having  no  special  favour  for  the  bed  I  slept  on, 
I  left  it  at  the  first  streak  of  light  to  go  and  rouse  you 
from  your  dreams,  and  lo !  there  you  are  at  one  of 
your  dog  and  wolf  bargains  with  the  country  side 
clowns." 

"  Discreet  knaves,  Dickon,  who  have  come  to  ease 
us  of  somewhat  of  our  charge  of  contraband:  stout 
jerkins — stout  and  well  lined  ;  rogues  of  substance — 
Nichol  Upstake,  the  ordinary  keeper  of  Warrington, 
and  Perry  Cadger,  the  mercer  of  St.  Mary's.  Seeing 
thee  here,  I  dismissed  them  until  sunset.  That  Pere 
grine  Cadger  is  somewhat  leaky  as  a  gossip,  and 
might  tell  tales  if  he  were  aware  that  I  consorted 
with  you." 

"  I  see  them  taking  the  road  on  their  ponies,"  said 
Cocklescraft;  "we  may  venture  to  the  hut.  I  am 
sharp  set  for  breakfast,  and  when  I  have  a  contented 
stomach,  I  will  hold  discourse  with  you,  Rob,  touch 
ing  matters  of  some  concern  to  us  both." 

The  Cripple  and  his  guest,  upon  this  hint,  repaired 
to  the  hut,  and  in  due  time  the  morning  meal  was 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  265 

supplied  and  despatched.  Cocklescraft  then  opened 
the  purport  of  his  visit. 

"  Has  it  ever  come  into  your  wise  brain,  Master 
Rob,"  he  asked,  "  that  you  are  getting  somewhat  old ; 
and  that  it  might  behoove  you  to  make  a  shrift  at 
the  confessional,  by  way  of  settling  your  account? 
I  take  it,  it  will  not  be  a  very  clean  reckoning  with 
out  a  good  swashing  penance." 

"  How  now,  thou  malignant  kite  !"  exclaimed  the 
Cripple ;  "  what's  in  the  wind  ?" 

"  Simply,  Rob,  that  the  time  has  come  when,  per- 
adventure,  we  must  part.  "  I  am  tired  of  this  wicked 
life.  I  shall  amend;  and  I  come  to  counsel  you  to 
the  like  virtuous  resolution.  I  will  be  married, 
Robert  Swale,  Man  of  the  Bowl !" 

"  Grammercy !  thou  wilt  be  married  !  thou !  I  spit 
upon  thee  for  a  fool.  What  crotchet  is  this  ?" 

"  I  will  be  married,  as  I  say,  neither  more  nor  less. 
Now  to  what  wench,  ask  you  1  Why  to  the  very 
fairest  and  primest  flower  of  this  province — the  Rose 
of  St.  Mary's — the  Collector's  own  daughter.  I 
mark  that  devil's  sneer  of  unbelief  of  your's,  old 
buckler  man :  truer  word  was  never  spoke  by  son  of 
the  sea  or  land,  than  I  speak  now." 

"To  the  Collector's  daughter!"  ejaculated  the 
Cripple,  in  a  tone  of  derision.  "  Thy  carriage  is  bold 
in  the  Port,  but  no  measure  of  audacity  will  ever 
bring  thee  to  that  favour.  Would'st  thou  play  at  thine 
old  game,  and  sack  the  town,  and  take  the  daintiest 
in  it  for  ransom  ?  You  know  no  other  trick  of  wooing, 
Dickon." 

VOL.  L— 23 


266  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

"  By  my  hand,  Rob,  I  am  specially  besought  by  the 
Collector  to  make  one  at  a  choice  merry-making 
which  his  daughter  has  on  foot  for  next  Thursday. 
Ay,  and  I  am  going,  on  his  set  command,  to  dance  a 
gailliard  with  Mistress  Blanche.  Oh,  she  shall  be 
the  very  bird  of  the  sea — the  girl  of  the  billow,  Rob ! 
She  shall  be  empress  of  the  green  wave  that  nursed 
me,  and  the  blue  sky,  and  the  wide  waste.  Her 
throne  shall  be  on  the  deck  of  my  gay  bark :  and  my 
merry  men  shall  spring  at'her  beck  as  deftly  as  at 
the  boatswain's  pipe !" 

"  You  shall  sooner  meet  your  deservings,"  said 
Rob,  "  on  the  foal  of  the  acorn,  with  a  hempen  string, 
than  find  grace  with  the  Collector's  child.  Thy  whole 
life  has  been  adversary  to  the  good  will  of  the 
father." 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  Cocklescraft.  "  I  was  born 
in  natural  warfare  with  the  customs  and  all  who 
gather  them ;  the  more  praise  for  my  exploit !  I  shall 
change  my  ways  and  forsake  evil  company.  I  shall 
be  a  man  of  worship.  We  shall  shut  up  the  Chapel, 
Rob;  expel  our  devils;  pack  off  our  witches  to  Nor 
way,  and  establish  an  honest  vocation.  Therefore, 
Rob,  go  to  father  Pierre ;  repent  of  your  misdeeds, 
•  and  live  upon  your  past  gains.  You  are  rich  and 
may  afford  to  entertain  henceforth  a  reputable  con 
science." 

"  Do  not  palter  with  me,  sirrah !  but  tell  me  what 
this  imports." 

"  Then  truly,  Rob,  I  am  much  disturbed  in  my 
fancies.  I  love  the  wench,  and  mean  to  have  her — 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  267 

fairly  if  I  can — but  after  the  fashion  of  the  Coast  if  I 
must.  She  doth  not  consent  as  yet — mainly  because 
she  hath  a  toy  of  delight  in  that  silken  Secretary  of 
my  Lord — a  bookish  pale-cheeked,  sickly  strummer 
of  stringed  instruments — one  Master  Verheyden,  I 
think  they  call  him." 

"  Ha  !" .  exclaimed  the  Cripple,  as  a  frown 
gathered  on  his  brow ;  "  what  is  he  ?  Whence  comes 
he?" 

"  His  Lordship's  chamber  secretary,"  replied  Cock- 
lescraft;  "brought  hither  I  know  not  when  nor 
whence.  A  silent-paced,  priestly  pattern  of  modesty, 
who  feeds  on  the  favour  of  his  betters,  as  a  lady's 
dog,  that  being  allowed  to  lick  the  hand  of  his  mis 
tress,  takes  the  privilege  to  snarl  on  all  who  approach 
her.  I  shall  make  light  work  with  him  by  whipping 
him  out  of  my  way.  Why  are  you  angry,  that  you 
scowl  so,  Master  Rob  ?" 

"  I  needs  must  be  angry  to  see  thee  make  a  fool  of 
thyself,"  replied  the  master  of  the  hut.  "  Verheyden — 
his  Lordship's  secretary !"  he  muttered  to  himself. 
"  No,  no !  it  would  be  a  folly  to  think  it." 

"  Mutter  as  you  will,  Rob,"  said  Cocklescraft ;  «  by 
St.  lago,  I  will  try  conclusions  with  the  Secretary — 
folly  or  no  folly !  He  hath  taught  the  maiden,"  he 
added,  with  a  bitter  emphasis,  "  to  affect  a  scorn  for 
me,  and  he  shall  smart  for  it." 

"  Ha !  thy  spirit  is  ever  for  undoing !"  exclaimed 
Rob,  suddenly  changing  his  mood,  and  forcing  a  harsh 
laugh  of  derision.  "  Mischief  is  your  proper  element 
— your  food,  your  repose,  your  luxury.  Well,  if 


268  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

thou  needst  must  take  on  a  new  life,  and  strive  to  be 
worshipful,  I  would  counsel  thee  to  begin  it  with  some 
deed  of  charity,  not  strife.  I  had  as  well  make  my 
lecture  to  a  young  wolf!  Ha,  Dickon,  thou  wilt  be  a 
prospering  pupil  to  the  master  that  teaches  thee  the 
virtue  of  charity !  Such  rede  will  be  welcome  to  thee 
as  water  to  thy  shoes !  I  have  scanned  thee  in  all 
thy  humours !" 

"  I  spurn  upon  your  advice,  and  will  not  be  scorned, 
old  man !"  said  Cocklescraft,  angrily.  "  The  maiden 
shall  be  mine,  though  I  pluck  her  from  beneath  "her 
father's  blazing  roof-tree ;  and  then  farewell  to  the 
province,  and  to  thee  !  Mark  you  that !  I  come  not 
to  be  taunted  with  thy  ill-favoured  speech !  My  men 
shall  be  withdrawn  from  the  Chapel.  I  will  put  them 
on  worthier  service  than  to  minister  to  thy  greedi 
ness." 

"Hot-brained,  silly  idiot — thou  drivelling  fool!" 
shouted  Rob.  "  Dost  thou  not  know  that  I  can  put 
thee  in  the  dust  and  trample  on  thee  as  a  caitiff? 
that  I  can  drive  thee  from  the  province  as  a  vile  out 
law?  Art  thou  such  a  dizzard  as  to  tempt  my  anger? 
If  you  would  thrive  even  in  your  villanous  wooing, 
have  a  care  not  to  provoke  my  displeasure !  One 
word  from  me,  and  not  a  man  paces  thy  deck: 
thou  goest  abroad  unattended,  stiverless — a  fugitive, 
with  hue  and  cry  at  thy  heels.  How  dar'st  thou  re 
prove  me.  boy?" 

"  Thy  hand,  Rob,"  said  Cocklescraft,  relenting. 
"  You  say  no  more  than  my  folly  warrants;  I  am  a 


ROB  OF  THE  BOWL.  269 

wanton  fool:  your  pardon — let  there  be  peace  be 
tween  us." 

"  Art  reasonable  again  ?  Bravely  confessed,  Dickon ! 
I  forgive  thy  rash  speech.  Now  go  thy  ways,  and 
the  Foul  One  speed  thee !  I  have  naught  to  counsel, 
either  for  strife  or  peace,  since  thou  hast  neither 
wit,  wisdom,  nor  patience  for  sober  advice  against 
the  current  of  thy  will.  It  will  not  be  long  before 
this  maimed  trunk  shall  sink  into  its  natural  resting 
place — and  it  matters  not  to  me  how  my  remnant 
of  time  be  spent — whether  in  hoarding  or  keeping. 
The  world  will  find  me  an  heir  to  squander  what 
little  store  it  hath  pleased  my  fortune  to  gather.  So 
go  thy  ways  !" 

"  I  will  see  you  again,  friend  Rob,"  said  the  Buc 
caneer.  "  I  have  matter  to  look  after  at  the  Chapel, 
and  then  shall  get  back  to  the  Port,  to  drive  my 
suit  to  a  speedy  issue.  I  came  here  but  in  honest 
dealing  with  you,  to  give  you  friendly  notice  of 
my  design,  and,  perchance,  to  get  your  aid.  You 
have  no  counsel  for  me  ?  It  is  well ;  my  own  head 
and  arm  shall  befriend  me ;  they  have  stood  me  in 
stead  in  straits  more  doubtful  than  this :  farewell — 
farewell !" 

As  the  Skipper  stepped  along  the  beach,  Rob 
planted  himself  in  the  door  of  the  hut  and  looked 
after  him  for  some  moments,  nodding  his  head  sig 
nificantly  towards  him,  arid  muttering  in  a  cynical 
undertone,  "Go  thy  ways,  snake  of  the  sea,  spawn 
of  a  water  devil !  Thou  married !  ha,  ha !  Thy 


270  ROB  OF  THE  BOWL. 

lady  gay  shall  have  a  sweetened  cup  in  thee :  and  thy 
wooing  shall  be  tender  and  gentle — yea,  as  the 
appetite  of  the  sword-fish.  It  shall  be  festival 
wooing — all  in  the  light — in  the  light — of  the  bride's 
own  blazing  roof:  a  dainty  wolf!  a  most  tractable 
shark !  Oh,  I  cannot  choose  but  laugh !" 


END  OF  VOLUME  I. 


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SAKE    SLICK. 

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The  cheerful  sage,  when  solemn  dictates  fail, 
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land. — 15.  The  Dancing  Master 
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Les  Aventures  de  Telemaque, 
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Comprising  Recollections,  Sketches, 

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Tour  in  the  East,  in 

1832,  1833. 
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in  general. 

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fee. 

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DEWEES  ON  THE  DISEASES 
OF  CHILDREN. 

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family.  The  objects  of  it  are,  1st, 
to  teach  those  who  have  the  charge 
of  children,  either  us  parent  or  guar 
dian,  the  most  approved  methods  of 
securing  and  improving  their  physi 
cal  powers.  This  is  attempted  by 


pointing  out  the  duties  which  the 
parent  or  the  guardian  owes  for  this 
purpose  to  this  interesting,  but  help 
less  class  of  beings,  and  the  manner 
by  which  their  duties  shall  be  ful 
filled.  And  2d,  to  render  available 
along  experience  to  these  objects 
of  our  affection  when  they  become 
diseased.  In  attempting  this,  the 
author  has  avoided  as  much  HS  pos 
sible  "technicality?"  and  lias  given, 
if  he  does  not  flatter  himself  too 
much,  to  each  disease  of  which  he 
treats,  its  appropriate  and  designat 
ing  characters,  with  a  fidelity  that 
will  prevent  any  two  being  con 
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SCIENCE   MADE  EASY. 

Being  a  Familiar  Introduction  to  the 
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Thirty  Year*'  Correspondence 

BETWEEN 

John  Jebb,  D.  D.,  F.  R.  S., 

Bishop  of  Limerick,  Ardfert,  and 

Aghadoe, 

AND 

Alexander  Knox,  Esq.,  M.  R.  I.  A. 

Edited  by  the  Rev.  CHABLES  FOR- 
STER,  B.  D.,  Perpetual  Curate  of 
Ash  next  Sandwich;  formerly  Do 
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In  Two  Volumes,  Octavo. 

A  GEOLOGICAL  MANUAL. 

By  HENRY  T.  DE  LA  BECHE,  Esq.,  F. 

R.  S.,   F.  G.  S.,   Member  of  the 

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